Saif Ali Khan attack: Who is Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad, suspect arrested by Mumbai police?

The Mumbai police have arrested one Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad after the knife attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, which left him hospitalised.

As per reports, Shahzad has now confessed to the attack, even as authorities have not ruled out the possibility of an 'international conspiracy' after the alleged assailant's Bangladeshi origin came to light.

The matter has also taken on a political turn with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut calling for Amit Shah's resignation, since as the Home Minister, he is in charge of security of the nation and the attack on the actor has been projected as a security breach by the opposition leader, due to Shahzad's Bangladeshi origin.

With politics starting to brew around the arrest, here is a look at who Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad is.

Bangladesh to Mumbai

Shahzad, arrested almost 70 hours after the stabbing, changed his name to Vijay Das once he entered India from the neighbouring country and has been living in Mumbai for the past six months. His alleged motive behind the crime was robbery, authorities said, adding that the individual was unaware he had entered the Bollywood star's residence during his criminal endeavour.

After entering India 'illegally' Shahzad settled in the Maximum City, finding work at a Thane bar. The 30-year-old who also took up work at a Worli pub was reportedly caught stealing a guest's diamond ring.

Shahzad, however, left the Thane gig a week before the attack, in hopes of better employment. At the time of his arrest, he did not carry any valid Indian identification.

How he escaped after the attack

After the attack, which turned violent, the man took a train from Bandra to Dadar and headed to his temporary residence in Worli. He had slept at the Bandra bus stop after the incident. He went into hiding out of fear after he saw his face plastered across news outlets.

He also headed to the dense mangroves near a labour camp in Thane's Kasarwadavli and evaded capture for almost three days. Twenty teams had been formed to nab the suspect, and during the interrogation, Shahzad also revealed that he had tried keeping a low profile in Thane, flitting from one hiding place to another.

How the breakthrough came

Cops got the breakthrough with digital clues that helped them understand Shahzad's movements. A CCTV camera in a mobile phone shop showed him on video. Then, a UPI payment made by him to acquire a phone cover helped cops trace his steps, IE reported. Using phone records, cops were able to narrow down the area, but it was a former employer—a contractor—who led the authorities to Shahzad's spot in Thane.

(With PTI inputs)