Saif Ali Khan
Mumbai: Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly attempting to burgle actor Saif Ali Khan ’s Bandra residence and grievously assaulting him in Jan 2025, filed a fresh plea to plead guilty during a court hearing on Thursday. The court also directed the jail authorities to initiate communication with the Bangladesh Embassy through the proper official channel and ensure that the accused is given the facility to communicate with the embassy.
Shariful, who is currently in judicial custody, was produced before the court for the hearing.
On Sept 11, the court had rejected Shariful’s earlier attempt to plead guilty in the case. The matter has now been adjourned to Oct 23. On Aug 28, the 31-year-old had first sought to plead guilty and prayed for leniency in sentencing. Charges were also framed on Aug 14 under the Foreigners Act and the Passport (Entry into India) provisions for allegedly entering and staying in India illegally. On Sept 11, during a virtual hearing, the court declined the request for leniency through a guilty plea, paving the way for a trial to proceed on the charges of armed robbery and dacoity.
The plea came days after the court framed stringent charges against him for armed robbery or dacoity with attempts to cause death or grievous hurt. The maximum punishment attracted in the case is life imprisonment. When an accused pleads guilty, the accused gives up the right to a full trial.
Such an application is usually filed before the court where the trial is pending and may include details such as whether the accused has any previous conviction in a similar case. A guilty plea is often placed before the court as a mitigating circumstance at the stage of sentencing.