Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane sparked controversy on Thursday with his comments about the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan at his Mumbai home. A Bangladeshi intruder reportedly stabbed Saif during a robbery attempt. However, Rane questioned whether the actor was actually stabbed or just pretending, according to ANI.

Speaking at a rally in Alandi, Rane questioned whether Saif was actually stabbed or just pretending. “When he came out of the hospital, I wondered if he was stabbed or acting. He was walking as if he was dancing. Whenever someone like Shahrukh Khan or Saif gets hurt, people make a big deal out of it,” he said.

Rane also referred to Saif as “garbage” and said it should be removed. Commenting on the intruder, he added, “Bangladeshis in Mumbai used to stand at road crossings; now, they’ve started entering houses. Maybe the intruder came to take Saif away. It’s good garbage should be taken away.”

Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times during a robbery attempt by a Bangladeshi immigrant, Shariful Islam, inside his Bandra apartment on January 16. However, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane stirred controversy by alleging that the case was receiving attention due to Saif’s religion and claimed that similar concerns wouldn’t be shown for Hindu actors.

Addressing a crowd, Rane said, “When a Hindu actor like Sushant Singh Rajput is tortured, no one speaks up. People like Jitendra Awhad from Mumbra and Supriya Sule from Baramati remain silent. They only worry about Saif Ali Khan, Shah Rukh Khan’s son, and Nawab Malik. Have you ever seen them expressing concern for any Hindu artist?”

Nitesh Rane's recent remarks about Saif Ali Khan's alleged stabbing incident have sparked a wave of controversy. Before questioning the actor's injuries, Rane had made critical comments about Bangladeshi immigrants in India, adding further fuel to the fire.

n response to Rane's statements, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, "I am not aware of what Nitesh Rane has said. I will speak to him directly when I meet him. If there are any concerns, I will check with the police. Saif was attacked recently but seems to be doing better now. What happened, happened."

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam also raised doubts about Saif Ali Khan's quick recovery, commenting, "There are some things that don't make sense. A lot of people in Mumbai are wondering if the treatment was that extraordinary. Has medical technology advanced so much that Saif could be up and about just four days after the attack?"