Bhopal gangster ‘Rehman Daket’ arrested in Surat:Led criminal network in 14 states spreading terror for 20 years flaunting horses and luxury cars

Surat Crime Branch has arrested Abid Ali, also known as Raju or Rehman Daket, a most wanted criminal who had been on the run for the last 20 years. He is the main leader of the ‘Irani Dera’ gang, which was active across many states in India. Police said Raju Irani led a criminal network spread across 14 states. He was involved in serious crimes such as robbery, posing as a CBI officer, looting people while dressed as a sadhu, and trying to burn people alive. Many cases were registered against him under strict laws, including MCOCA. The gang was operated from Bhopal’s Irani Dera. Police said the money from robberies was used to buy luxury cars, costly bikes and Arabian horses. Acting on secret information, Surat Police caught him from the Lal Gate area in a planned operation. He was arrested without firing a single shot. Police said his arrest has weakened the gang and may help solve many old and pending crime cases. Came to Surat to make it his new target and got caught
In this entire matter, DCP Bhavesh Roziya of the Crime Branch stated that the Crime Branch had received a tip-off that Abid Ali alias Raju Irani, a resident of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, who is the main mastermind of the notorious gang known as ‘Irani Dera’, had come to Surat. Based on this information, he was arrested. After his arrest, many secrets began to unfold. He is famous in Bhopal by the name ‘Rehman Daket’. The accused has been living in Aman Nagar Society for the last 13 to 14 years. He is the mastermind and gang leader of six different gangs. He and his brother Zakir Ali live an extremely luxurious life and are financially very well-off. They are fond of owning expensive luxury cars and bikes. Members of this gang cheat and rob people by posing as fake CBI officers or by disguising themselves as religious sadhus. Raju Irani’s criminal network is spread across 14 states
They further stated that, according to the modus operandi of this gang, three to four people in each gang commit the crime, and another three to four people dispose of the stolen goods, so that even if a member of the gang is caught, the police do not recover the stolen property. When the police go to apprehend these accused, they use the women and children of their homes as human shields. Raju Irani has been caught in more than 10 crimes so far and is currently wanted in more than 6 serious crimes, regarding which his interrogation is ongoing. Raju Irani’s network is spread across 14 states. If his name comes up after committing a crime in one state, he immediately flees to another state. In December, when about 150 personnel of Bhopal Police conducted a combing operation in ‘Irani Dera’, he again escaped by putting women forward. At that time, the police seized numerous bikes from there. He was named ‘Rehman Dacoit’ due to old connections with Iranian robbers
They also stated that if any person or accomplice provided information about them to the police, they would cause them serious harm. In one such incident, this gang locked an informant inside his own house and set the entire house on fire, a case for which he was absconding. The Crime Branch apprehended the accused before he could commit any new crime in Surat. The area where he lives is known as ‘Irani Dera’. Perhaps he is called ‘Rehman Dacoit’ due to his old connections with Iranian robbers or his criminal modus operandi. A case was also registered against the mastermind under MCOCA
Several serious crimes are registered against Raju Irani across the country. He is wanted for robbery under Section 392 in Gurugram, Haryana, fraud and robbery in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, and in a Section 420 case by the Delhi Crime Branch since 2022. His criminal empire is spread across the map of India. His gang was so active in Maharashtra that a case was registered against him at Kapurbawdi Police Station in Thane under the ‘Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act’ (MCOCA). This law is considered extremely strict and proves that he is a mastermind of organized crime. Who is Abid Ali alias Raju Irani?
The full name of the accused is Abid Ali alias Raju alias Rehman Dacoit Asmat Ali Irani. He is a resident of Aman Colony near the Shia Mosque in Bhopal’s Karond area. According to police records, he is not just a thief or a robber, but a ‘gang lord’ who managed several sub-gangs active in multiple states. Raju Irani is not just a robber but an accused with a cruel mentality. Raju Irani and his brother Zakirali lived a life of luxury. From the money obtained through robbery, they amassed a fleet of luxury cars. They also have a hobby of rearing Arabian horses and riding expensive sports bikes. These brothers, living a lavish life with money from crime, held a ‘don-like’ status in the Irani Dera. Accused Raju’s criminal history begins in 2006, when he was first booked for kidnapping in Bhopal. Subsequently, cases of serious assault and under the Arms Act were continuously registered against him in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2020. He also committed crimes in Pune in 2013 and in Bhiwandi in 2017. Not only in North or Central India, but Raju also carried out several robberies in Kolkata’s Greaspark and Shyampura areas in 2019 and 2020. The West Bengal Police had also been looking for his record for a long time. He acted like a corporate leader for his gang members
Raju Irani acted like a corporate leader for his gang members. If any gang member was caught, Raju would take responsibility for arranging their bail, hiring a lawyer, and supporting their family. In return, he would get a large share from each robbery. Due to this organized structure, his gang was able to evade the police for years. Trained gang members to behave like police
Bhopal’s Irani Dera has been a challenge for the police for years. Raju Irani was considered the head of this Dera. From here, the entire Indian network was operated. Raju would sit here and decide which gang would go to South India and which to the West. He also trained gang members on how to create a police-like impression in Hindi. Robbing elderly and lone citizens by posing as CBI officers
The biggest specialty of this gang is their ability to imitate. They mostly roam around wearing safari suits and identify themselves as CBI officers or high-ranking police officers. Targeting elderly and lone citizens, they pose as ‘police’. Saying, “Checking is going on ahead, why are you wearing gold jewelry?”, they make people remove their ornaments and, under the pretext of wrapping them in a handkerchief, cleverly steal the real jewelry. The gang used to loot goods by throwing an itchy chemical
Raju Irani’s gang keeps watch outside banks or large jewelry showrooms. When a person leaves with cash or jewelry, gang members throw dirt or an itchy chemical on their clothes. The moment the victim diverts their attention to cleaning their clothes, gang members disappear with their valuable belongings. This act happens so quickly that the victim often realizes they’ve been robbed only after returning home. They also looted people by disguising themselves as sadhus or babas
Members of this gang can not only pose as officials but also as sadhus or babas. They enter homes in the name of astrology or rituals. By trapping them with promises like ‘purifying gold’ or ‘bestowing blessings,’ they have looted the life savings of thousands of people. Their manner of speaking and their ability to ensnare naive people make them even more dangerous. When police came to arrest, they would make women-children of the house a shield and escape.
Whenever police from any state go to Irani Dera for investigation or raids, the standard modus operandi of this gang is stone-pelting. They make the women and children of the house a shield and stand them in front of the police. During this commotion, the main culprit escapes through a secret route at the back. In December 2025, when Bhopal police raided with 150 personnel, a similar situation arose. To escape the police, he came near Lalgate in Surat. However, Surat Crime Branch arrested the accused based on intelligence. After his arrest, police came to know that he maintained a specific hierarchy in the world of crime.