A tragic case of mistaken identity has left 31-year-old driver Akash Kailash Kanojia grappling with severe personal and professional losses. Mumbai police wrongfully identified Kanojia as a suspect in an attempted burglary at Saif Ali Khan’s Bandra apartment on January 16.
The confusion began when Mumbai police alerted the Railway Protection Force (RPF), resulting in Kanojia’s detention at Durg station in Chhattisgarh on January 17. While on his way to meet a prospective bride, Kanojia was detained and publicly identified as the suspect, further tarnishing his reputation.
Also Read: Mumbai Man’s Life Shattered After Mistaken Identity in Saif Ali Khan Attack Case
Despite his repeated assertions of innocence and requests to review CCTV footage, Kanojia was released only on January 19 after the real attacker, Shariful Islam Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested. By then, the damage was done—his employer terminated him, and the bride’s family withdrew their proposal due to widespread media coverage.
Kanojia, who pointed out that the actual suspect lacked the moustache he has, is now fighting to clear his name and restore his life. He has requested that false images linking him to the case be removed from the internet, vowing to pursue legal action to regain his reputation.
