Intruder stabs Saif, demands ₹1 crore

Khan sustained 6 stab wounds, including a major injury to the thoracic spinal cord due to part of knife lodged in his spine

- Manish Kumar Pathak and Yogesh Naik

MUMBAI: An as-yet unidentified man broke into the Bandra home of actors Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor-Khan in the early hours of Thursday and inflicted multiple stab wounds on Saif, while also injuring two staff nurses who look after the couple's two young children.

The 54-year-old actor was rushed to Lilavati Hospital at 3.30 am in an autorickshaw by members of his staff and his son Ibrahim Ali Khan, 23, who lives nearby. Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was in the house at the time of the incident, reached the hospital soon after, said a police officer.

Saif Ali Khan sustained six stab wounds including a major injury to the thoracic spinal cord due to a part of the knife lodged in his spine, according to officials. Dr Nitin Dange, the neurosurgeon who carried out the emergency operation, said: "Surgery was performed to remove the embedded knife part and repair leaking spinal fluid. Two other deep wounds on his left hand and neck were repaired by a team of plastic surgeons." Lilavati Hospital COO Dr Niraj Uttamani said the actor, who underwent a five-hour-long surgery, is now out of danger and recuperating. The two staff nurses, identified as Elyimma Philips and Geeta, did not sustain serious injuries, officials said.

By Thursday evening, Mumbai police released a CCTV grab of the alleged assailant, who is at large. Officials said the accused is aged 35-40, is of a slim build, and about five feet and five inches tall.

What transpired