A Bandra courtroom turned chaotic on Sunday when two lawyers vied for the opportunity to represent Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, the 30-year-old Bangladeshi national accused of stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan. The disorder occurred during Shehzad’s remand hearing, as the lawyers jostled over who would sign the vakalatnama (legal document) for the accused, forcing the magistrate to intervene. The magistrate suggested that both advocates work together in representing Shehzad, according to news agency PTI.
Shehzad is accused of sneaking into Khan’s Bandra residence in the early hours of January 16, climbing to the 12th floor of the Satguru Sharan building using a pipe, and entering through a bathroom window. After encountering domestic staff, a confrontation ensued, resulting in Khan being stabbed multiple times. The 54-year-old actor sustained injuries near his neck and spine and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital for emergency surgery. Khan is now in stable condition and recovering well.
Shehzad, who was on the run for three days, was arrested after a manhunt led police to a labor camp in Thane, where they tracked him using CCTV footage. While initial investigations suggest theft as the motive, authorities have not ruled out an international conspiracy. Shehzad is said to have entered India illegally six months ago under the alias Vijay Das.
Outside the court, Shehzad’s lawyer denied his Bangladeshi origin and criticized the police’s investigation, questioning the lack of evidence supporting the murder charges.
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