Mumbai: Saif Ali Khan sustained a major injury to the thoracic spinal cord during the fight with the intruder at his Bandra home last night, Dr Nitin Dange of Lilavati Hospital informed on Thursday.
Spinal fluid leaked out after shards of the attacker’s knife lodged into his spine. The doctors repaired the spinal injury and also performed plastic surgeries on his hand and neck, where he was stabbed.
“Saif Ali Khan was admitted to the hospital at 2 am with alleged history of assault by some unknown person. He sustained a major injury to the thoracic spinal cord due to a lodged knife in the spine. A surgery was performed to remove the knife and repair leaking spinal fluid. Two other deep wounds on his left hand and one other on his neck were repaired by the plastic surgery team. He is completely stable now. He is recovering well and out of danger now,” he told reporters.
The actor was reportedly stabbed six times and rushed to the hospital, about 2 km from his home, by his elder son Ibrahim in an auto-rickshaw since a car was not available at that time. He was operated upon by a team of doctors led neurosurgeon Dr Nitin Dange, cosmetic surgeon Dr Leena Jain and anaesthesiologist Dr Nisha Gandhi.
His family, in a statement, said, “Saif Ali Khan has come out of surgery and is out of danger. He is currently in recovery and the doctors are monitoring his progress. All family members are safe and the police is investigating the incident. We would like to thank Dr. Niraj Uttamani, Dr. Nitin Dange, Dr Leena Jain and the team at Lilavati hospital. Thank you to all his fans and well-wishers for their prayers and thoughts during this time.”
Kareena Kapoor, who was reportedly not home last night during the attack, arrived at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai this afternoon to meet her husband after he underwent multiple surgeries. Saif’s eldest kids Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan were also spotted at the hospital.
According to Mumbai police, prima facie it appeared one of the domestic helps let the attacker into the house, who then managed to escape despite being locked up in one of the rooms. “We suspect the help must have allowed him entry and due to some reason a fight took place. She is being interrogated by the local police to get more details about the accused. Seven local police teams are working to track him down,” IE reported, quoting a Mumbai police source.
Theft is suspected as the motive behind the attack.
Police have found on signs of forced entry into the house. A forensic department officer told the press that they have collected the fingerprints from the spot. Sniffer dogs were also brought to the spot to track down intruder, who fled the scene.
Mumbai DCP Dixit Gedam told the press that they have identified a person who went to the house with the intention of burglary. “The suspect used the staircase of the building ‘Satguru Sharan’ where actor lives along with his family, to go upstairs. A FIR has been registered in the Bandra police station against the burglar,” he added.
