Drama in Court Over Saif Ali Khan Case Representation: What the Judge Said

Mumbai: The Bandra court witnessed unexpected drama as two lawyers jostled to represent a Bangladeshi man accused of attacking Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan during his remand hearing.

The accused, 30-year-old Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, was arrested on Sunday morning from Thane city for allegedly breaking into Saif Ali Khan’s 12th-floor apartment in Bandra’s posh 'Satguru Sharan' building in the early hours of January 16. Shehzad reportedly intended to rob the actor but ended up repeatedly stabbing him.

Saif, 54, underwent emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital and is said to be recovering well, with a likely discharge soon, according to doctors.

In court, confusion erupted when two lawyers vied to represent Shehzad, each trying to get his signature on the vakalatnama, a legal document authorizing a lawyer to appear in a case. To diffuse the heated exchange, the magistrate suggested that both lawyers represent the accused as a team. The court then remanded Shehzad to police custody for five days.

Police identified Shehzad as a native of Jhalokathi district in southern Bangladesh’s Barisal division. He had been in Mumbai for five months, working odd jobs, including in housekeeping. The police apprehended him after rounding up individuals resembling the intruder captured on CCTV footage from Saif’s building.

This high-profile case highlights a shocking breach of security at one of Mumbai's upscale residential buildings.