Attack on Saif Ali Khan: Accused files bail plea, claims FIR 'imaginary story'
Mumbai, Jul 19 (PTI): The Bangladeshi national held for allegedly stabbing and injuring actor Saif Ali Khan has moved a bail application before a court here claiming he was innocent and that the FIR against him was an "imaginary story".
The 54-year-old actor was repeatedly stabbed with a knife inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra on January 16 this year. He underwent an emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital, from where he was discharged after five days.
Police nabbed Mohammad Shariful Islam (30) two days after the incident from neighbouring Thane. He is lodged at Arthur Road Jail in the metropolis at present.
In his bail plea filed on Friday through advocate Vipul Dushing, the accused asserted he was innocent and that he had no prior criminal record.
His plea stated that the investigation into the incident had practically concluded, with only filing of chargesheet remaining.
It also said critical evidence, including CCTV footage and call records, was already with the prosecution.
Islam poses no threat of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses, the plea further contended.
"The present FIR is nothing but an imaginary story of the complainant. Therefore, he prays for bail ," the plea said.
The application also raised concerns about the legality of the arrest, citing disregard for section 47 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The provision mandates that an arrested person should be informed of the grounds of his arrest and of right to bail.
The matter has been adjourned to July 21 for the prosecution's reply.
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J-K: Rahul Gandhi to sponsor education of 22 children who lost their parents in Pak shelling
Rajouri/Jammu (PTI): Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will sponsor the education of 22 children who lost either one or both parents in the Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir during Operation Sindoor, a party leader has said.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra also refuted any differences with the pre-poll alliance partner National Conference (NC) but said his party is waiting for formation of coordination committee with the ruling party for the past nine months.
"A lot of civilian casualties and damage to properties took place in Poonch and Rajouri (between May 7 and 10) in Pakistani shelling. Rahul Gandhi visited Poonch in the aftermath of the devastating shelling and visited the bereaved families. He asked us to prepare a list of school-going children who lost one or both parents, especially the breadwinners, and accordingly we submitted the list to him," Karra, who reached Rajouri on a three-day tour of the region, told reporters late Monday.
He said the party has a list of 22 such children in the Poonch district alone, and more such children might be included at the end of the three-day visit.
Poonch district alone accounted for 13 civilian deaths among 28 fatalities in the Pakistani shelling and drone attacks in Jammu and Kashmir after the Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on terror infrastructure across the border under Operation Sindoor in May in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons dead.
Karra said he is visiting Poonch on Tuesday to handover the financial aid sent by the leader of opposition for the affected children for their education.
"This is an initiative aimed at extending a helping hand to the children so that their studies are not impacted," he said.
