The auto driver, who took Saif Ali Khan to Lilavati Hospital after the actor was attacked, has said that he would never ask for anything but would happily take an auto rickshaw as a gift from the actor if he wanted to give it. However, he made it clear that he never expected a reward for his actions. He said, “Maang toh nahi raha magar agar unki ichcha hogi aur dena chahenge toh le lunga. Maine kabhi nahi kaha ki maine jo kiya hai uske liye mujhey kuch mile ya main uss cheez ke liye laalach kar raha hu. ”
Reports state that Khan could have paid the driver a sum of Rs 50,000 as an apology, but the auto driver wouldn’t confirm that. He said, “I have promised to him (Saif), and I will stick to it. Let people speculate about it. Let people say that he (Saif) gave me Rs 50,000 or Rs 1,00,000, but I would not like to reveal the amount. He has requested me not to share this information and I’ll keep my promise to him. Whatever it is, it is between him and me.
Saif Ali Khan, who was stabbed six times during a burglary attempt on January 16, met the auto driver a day before being discharged from the hospital on January 21. There, he thanked the driver for his support and introduced him to his mother, Sharmila Tagore. The driver proved his regard by touching Tagore’s feet, and she blessed him.
After the attack, Khan was operated on twice at Lilavati Hospital. The attacker, Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi resident, was arrested by the Mumbai Police and was put under five-day police custody.