Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Nitesh Rane sparked controversy on Thursday with his remarks regarding the attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his Mumbai residence earlier this month. Rane raised doubts about the authenticity of the actor’s stabbing, questioning whether it was a real attack or merely a staged act.

Speaking at a Hindu Mahotsav rally in Alandi, Nitesh Rane cast doubt on the incident where Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times during a robbery attempt at his Bandra home. “I saw when he came out of the hospital, I doubted whether he had been stabbed or he was acting. He was dancing while walking. Whenever any Khan like Shahrukh Khan or Saif Ali Khan gets hurt, everyone starts talking about it,” Rane said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Rane also referred to the actor in derogatory terms, calling him “garbage” and suggesting that the incident was not a serious matter. “Look at what Bangladeshis are doing in Mumbai. They entered Saif Ali Khan’s house. Earlier, they used to stand at the crossings of the roads, now they have started entering houses. Maybe he came to take him (Saif) away. It is good, garbage should be taken away,” Rane remarked.

Saif Ali Khan was attacked by a Bangladeshi immigrant, Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, during a robbery attempt on January 16. The actor sustained multiple stab wounds but has since made a quick recovery.

In addition to questioning the legitimacy of the attack, Rane also criticized the attention the case was receiving due to Khan’s religion. He alleged that similar incidents involving Hindu actors did not receive the same level of concern. “When a Hindu actor like Sushant Singh Rajput is tortured, no one comes forward to say anything. That Mumbra’s Jeetuddin (Jitendra Awhad) and Baramati’s Tai (Supriya Sule) did not come forward to say anything. They are only worried about Saif Ali Khan, Shah Rukh Khan’s son and Nawab Malik,” he said.

Rane’s comments have generated significant backlash, with political leaders and citizens questioning his remarks. Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, responded to the controversy, saying, “I have no idea what Nitesh Rane said…When I meet him I will ask him about it. I will ask the police department if there are any doubts. Yesterday, while Saif was going to his house, looking at his health, some people raised some questions. He was attacked some days back but he is well now. Whatever happened has happened.”

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam also expressed scepticism about Saif Ali Khan’s swift recovery, stating, “There are certain unanswered questions in my mind, and I believe many citizens of Mumbai feel the same…was the treatment so extraordinary, or should I say has the medical sector advanced so much, that just four days later, Saif Ali Khan returned home jumping and moving?”