Mumbai police on Friday informed a local court that the knife fragment lodged near actor Saif Ali Khan’s spine during a stabbing incident at his Bandra residence has matched with the weapon recovered from accused Mohammad Shariful Islam.

The match was confirmed through forensic analysis, police said, while opposing the bail plea of the accused.

The police stated that three parts — the fragment removed from Khan’s body, a piece found at the crime scene, and the knife recovered from Islam — were all from the same weapon used in the January 16 attack. The findings were backed by a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report and further confirmed by a medical officer and chemical analysis at FSL Kalina.

Khan, 54, was stabbed multiple times by an intruder inside his 12th-floor apartment in upscale Bandra. He underwent emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove the knife piece lodged near his spine and was discharged five days later.

Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested two days after the incident. In their written reply opposing his bail, police emphasized the gravity of the offence and highlighted strong evidence against him.

The police also flagged concerns over Islam's legal status, stating he is residing in India without valid documents and poses a flight risk. They further expressed fears that he may attempt to influence witnesses or the complainant if granted bail and noted the possibility of him reoffending.

“The offence is serious in nature, and sufficient material is available against the accused,” the police said in their submission.

In his bail plea, filed through advocate Ajay Gawali, the accused claimed that the FIR is fabricated and that he has fully cooperated with the investigation. With the probe largely complete and only the chargesheet pending, his continued detention serves no purpose, the plea stated.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 9.