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Bangladeshi national Mohammad Shariful Islam, accused of attacking Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his Mumbai residence, has expressed his willingness to plead guilty to the charges and seek a lighter sentence.
Shariful, 31, filed an application before a Mumbai sessions court on Friday, August 28, saying he wanted to admit his guilt.
His lawyer said Shariful regretted the incident and was seeking leniency.
The development marks a major shift in the case. Shariful had pleaded not guilty when charges were framed on August 14.
The court has not yet accepted his guilty plea and has asked prosecutors to respond. The matter is scheduled to be considered on September 11.
The case dates back to January 16, 2025, when an intruder allegedly entered Saif Ali Khan’s residence in Mumbai’s Bandra area during an attempted robbery and attacked the actor with a knife.
Khan sustained serious injuries and underwent surgery.
Shariful was arrested in Thane two days later. Mumbai Police subsequently identified him as a Bangladeshi national who was allegedly living illegally in India and using the alias Vijay Das.
Police had earlier said he admitted the attack during interrogation.
Shariful faces charges including armed house trespass and robbery involving an alleged attempt to cause death or grievous hurt, as well as offences under Indian passport and immigration laws.
The most serious charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.