Surat: For nearly two decades, the name Abid Ali, also known as Raju or “Rahman Dakait,” struck fear across state borders. The alleged mastermind of a multi-state crime syndicate based out of Bhopal’s notorious Irani Dera was long a shadowy figure in police records.
🚨 BIG! Surat Police ARREST dreaded criminal Rahman Dakait, mastermind of the ‘Irani Dera’ gang, after 20 years on the run.
He operated a crime network across 14 states, using disguises like a fake CBI officer and sadhu. pic.twitter.com/xORWz4eyuX
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) January 11, 2026
On January 9, his elusive run came to an end when the Surat Crime Branch conducted a covert operation in the Lalgate area, arresting him without a single shot being fired.
The arrest came after intelligence revealed that Raju had fled Bhopal following a high-risk police raid on his Aman Colony hideout and was hiding in Surat, allegedly planning another major crime. Acting on this tip-off, the Crime Branch set a trap and successfully apprehended him.
Police say Raju Irani ran a network of gangs active in at least 14 states, involved in crimes ranging from robbery, fraud, and extortion to impersonation, arson, and attempted murder. He also faces charges under Maharashtra’s stringent MCOCA law. One of his most dangerous traits was his ability to operate in disguise, often posing as a CBI officer, a police official in safari attire, or even a sadhu. By exploiting faith and authority, the gang specifically targeted elderly citizens and ordinary people in rural and semi-urban areas.
Police say the gang’s modus operandi closely mirrored the plot of the film Special 26. Members would impersonate sales tax officers, customs officials, CBI agents, or police personnel to conduct fake raids and carry out fraud operations. Every crime was meticulously planned in advance, with escape routes pre-determined. Even when arrested, gang members refused to disclose the names of accomplices or the structure of the network.
On January 11, Nishatpura police brought Raju Irani to Bhopal on a production warrant. He was presented before the district court and sent to police remand until January 17. During the hearing, Raju maintained his innocence.
His lawyer, Nazar Raja, challenged the police request for a seven-day remand. “There is no basis for such a remand. The case cited is already settled. The woman involved is a family member, another accused has already secured bail, and even a one-day remand is normally not granted. The police are only seeking his phone. We will apply for bail,” he said.
Police, however, describe Raju as a habitual and highly manipulative offender. “He constantly changes his version, denies leadership, and downplays his role. He is wanted in cases of attempted murder, arson, fraud, and robbery across multiple states,” a senior officer said.
Investigations show that the Irani settlement in Aman Colony, Bhopal, houses not just one but more than six criminal gangs, each specialising in different crimes. One gang sells fake gold and cheats buyers outside the city. Another impersonates officials to conduct fake raids. A third runs theft and burglary operations across states. A fourth steals high-end mobile phones and resells them. Two others are involved in land scams. All reportedly report to a single person—Raju Irani.
Police raids have recovered dozens of mobile phones, laptops, CPUs, and pen drives, now under forensic examination. Investigators believe these devices were used to unlock stolen phones and erase digital traces.
The gang is also linked to organised property manipulation. Kala Irani, a close associate, is under scrutiny for selling disputed plots in Nishatpura’s Janata Nagar colony and amassing property worth crores.
Perhaps the most shocking aspect is how easily arrested members managed to escape jail. In a dramatic raid on December 28 at 4 am, police detained 22 men and 10 women amid stone-pelting and physical attacks. Yet within 48 hours, 14 accused were released on bail using fake guarantors, including one who had died two years prior. Another impersonated the deceased guarantor in court, submitted forged documents, and secured bail.
The Irani gang traces its roots to the 1970s, when Raju’s father, Hasmat Irani, led the group. Raju took over in 2006. Leadership in the Dera is reportedly decided by a tribal council based on criminal credentials; the more serious the record, the stronger the claim. Nearly every one of the 70 families in the Irani Dera has at least one member with a criminal history. Members travel across India, Delhi, Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, on months-long “journeys” to commit crimes, while designated couriers transport stolen goods safely back. If someone is arrested, the Dera head ensures bail and supports the family. It is a system structured, disciplined, and ruthless. And for years, untouchable.
With Raju Irani in custody, police believe they have finally apprehended the man at the centre of this criminal spider web. Whether the law will now hold him, or whether he will once again slip through loopholes, bail orders, and forged documents, remains to be seen. But for the first time in years, the notorious “Rahman Dakait” is no longer a shadow. He is behind bars.
