In the aftermath of the attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora has called for a “comprehensive audit” of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in Maharashtra. Deora, in a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, emphasised the urgent need for strict measures to ensure the safety and security of citizens.
“The recent tragedy involving Saif Ali Khan highlights the pressing need to address the issue of illegal immigration. Maharashtra’s safety and security must come first,” Deora wrote.
Deora’s letter to the Chief Minister came amid the Opposition’s attack on the Maharashtra government over the attack of Saif Ali Khan. Several parties in Maharashtra, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, have been attacking Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis alleging the law and order situation in Mumbai is going downhill.
Notably, Milind Deora’s party Shiv Sena is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, alongside BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar).
“I have written a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and urged that wherever any Bangladeshi is living illegally, they should be deported as soon as possible,” he said.
He urged the state government to involve district collectors, local municipalities, and law enforcement agencies in a coordinated effort to identify, verify, and take action against undocumented individuals.
Deora also suggested imposing stringent penalties on staffing agencies that fail to verify the authenticity of documents before employing individuals.
“There is a need to introduce penalties for non-compliance, including fines and cancellation of licences for agencies found guilty of neglecting this responsibility. Maharashtra has always been a beacon of opportunity and inclusivity, but it is critical to balance these values with the necessity of ensuring safety, security, and legal accountability,” he added.
Regular inspections to ensure compliance were also proposed as part of the measures to tackle the issue.
Following the brutal attack on Saif Ali Khan on January 16, Opposition leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Sharad Pawar and Sanjay Raut launched an attack on the Maharashtra government, claiming Mumbai was not safe, “even for celebrities”.
“Earlier, Salman Khan was attacked, Baba Siddique was killed. If the government cannot provide security to such big celebrities, then what about the common people?” Kejriwal had said. In response, Fadnavis had called Mumbai the safest, saying it was wrong to call a city unsafe based on one incident.
Saif Ali Khan was stabbed six times by an intruder, later identified as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national living illegally in India.
He was arrested on Satuday and has been sent to police custody for five days.
Saif Ali Khan has been discharged from Lilavati Hospital, five days after the harrowing incident.