Saif Ali Khan Stabbing Case: Railways Facial Recognition System & ₹6 QR Code Payment Lead To Arrest Of Accused Shariful Islam

Mumbai: The railways' facial recognition system and a digital payment of Rs 6 led the police to Shariful Islam, the 30-year-old Bangladeshi national held in the Saif Ali Khan stabbing case, revealed the chargesheet filed by the Bandra police on April 8.

Key Details Revealed

Running into more than 1,600 pages, the chargesheet traces Islam's movements after allegedly attacking the actor in the wee hours of January 16. In another startling revelation, it says that the accused's social circle was oblivious to his real identity and knew him as Vijay. Following the incident, around 10.05 am, Islam visited Adarsh Nagar in Worli, where he stayed with Dablu Kumar Yadav, 20, and Rohit Yadav, 19. The trio worked as housekeeping staff.

In the evening, he rang Amit Pandey, 46, who helped him get odd jobs, from Rohit's phone, says the chargesheet, adding that he sought money for food. Pandey then transferred Rs 1,000 to Rohit's account, however, it was forwarded to Dablu's account as Rohit didn't have a debit card. As per the chargesheet, the trio subsequently went to Bank of India's ATM centre in Worli and withdrew Rs 1,000. After the night stay, Islam left in the morning, said the police.

According to Rohit and Dablu, he shaved his head and beard on January 16. They claimed that they discovered his real name after his photo started flashing on news channels. Quoting Pandey, the chargesheet says he was planning to approach the police, but Islam had been arrested by then. On January 9, days before the attack, Islam was captured in the railways' facial recognition system when he visited the Andheri railway station.

On January 18, the Railway Protection Force informed the Bandra police that Islam had been seen at the Andheri station. Sandip Patil, assistant police inspector from the Oshiwara police station, said that the railways' CCTV footage showed Islam exiting the station. He was spotted riding pillion with Pandey. The duo then went to a Xerox shop where Pandey paid Rs 6 via QR code. The digital trail of this transaction led the police to him, who was shocked to learn that the person whom he knew as Vijay was someone else. This breakthrough proved key in nabbing Islam, says the chargesheet.