The man accused of attacking Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has filed for bail, asserting that the allegations against him are fabricated and without merit. Mohammad Shariful Islam, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national, is currently in judicial custody at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail following the high-profile incident in January.

On January 16, Saif Ali Khan was reportedly stabbed multiple times inside his apartment on the 12th floor of a residential tower in Bandra. The 54-year-old actor underwent emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital and was discharged five days later.

Islam was arrested two days after the incident in Thane, a neighboring city, and has since maintained his innocence. In his recently submitted bail plea, he claimed that the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him is a fictional account. He argued that he has no criminal history and poses no risk of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses.

The bail petition further highlighted that the police investigation has largely concluded, with only the formal chargesheet yet to be filed. It also noted that key pieces of evidence, such as CCTV footage and call records, are already in the possession of the authorities.

Additionally, Islam’s legal team questioned the legality of his arrest. They cited a potential violation of Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which requires that an accused be informed of the reasons for arrest and their right to seek bail at the time of detention.

The court has postponed the hearing on the bail application to July 21, allowing time for the prosecution to submit its response.