Mumbai Police used a crucial phone payment to track down Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national who allegedly attacked Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra residence on January 16.
Shehzad, who had illegally entered India and changed his name to Bijoy Das, was arrested on Sunday in Thane.
The breakthrough came when Shehzad made a UPI payment for a paratha and water at a stall near Century Mill in Worli. This transaction, done via Google Pay, led investigators to his mobile number, which was traced to Thane.
Following this lead, about 100 police officers searched a dense mangrove area near a labor camp. After almost concluding the search, officers noticed someone lying on the ground. When approached, the person fled but was quickly caught.
Shehzad had been at Saif Ali Khan’s home in the early hours of January 16 with the intention of theft. However, he was interrupted when Khan’s staff spotted him, leading to an altercation. Shehzad demanded ₹1 crore, and when Khan intervened, he stabbed him in the back before fleeing.
Police had initially traced Shehzad using CCTV footage at Bandra and Dadar stations. Further investigation revealed he had interacted multiple times with a stall owner, Naveen Ekka, who confirmed Shehzad’s Google Pay transaction. This key detail helped track down Shehzad’s mobile number and led to his capture.
Upon questioning, Shehzad explained that after seeing his images on TV, he fled to Thane. He was found with tools like a hammer, screwdriver, and nylon rope, suggesting possible criminal intent. Shehzad reportedly only realized he had attacked a Bollywood star after seeing news coverage.
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