Notorious Criminal Raju Irani aka Rahman Dakait Captured After 20 Years, Spread Terror Across 14 States

The arrest of the notorious gangster Raju Irani, also known as Rahman Dakait, in Gujarat marks the end of a 20-year-long cat-and-mouse game with the police. Known for leading a legacy crime syndicate inherited from his father, Raju Irani orchestrated robberies, frauds, and violent crimes across 14 states, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat.

A Crime Empire Inherited

Born Abid Ali Irani, Raju inherited the leadership of the infamous Irani gang from his father, Hashmat Irani, who had established the “Irani Dera” in the 1970s. The gang reportedly consisted of 70 families involved in theft, fraud, and other criminal activities. Under Raju’s leadership from 2006, the syndicate became more sophisticated, deploying elaborate disguises, including posing as police officers, tax officials, and CBI agents to conduct robberies and scams.

Operations Across India

Raju Irani expanded his gang’s operations across northern and southern India. Members were trained in police-style conduct and Hindi communication to deceive victims. Looted goods were sent directly to Raju via couriers rather than carried personally by gang members. In several instances, fake guarantors were produced in court to secure bail for arrested members, including using deceased individuals as guarantors.

Women in the Syndicate

Sources indicate that women associated with the gang actively assisted in operations, including obstructing police raids by throwing stones, allowing gang members to escape. On December 28, during a police operation in Bhopal, Rahman Dakait evaded capture despite the presence of over 150 officers, eventually fleeing to Maharashtra and then to Surat, where he was finally apprehended. Police seized mobile phones, laptops, and pen drives from him.

Extravagant Lifestyle and Public Persona

Raju Irani lived a life of luxury, reportedly owning expensive cars, motorcycles, and horses. After his arrest, he attempted to portray himself as a champion of the poor, claiming to be a farmer engaged in land trading. Police have taken him into custody for questioning, with expectations of multiple disclosures about the gang’s operations.

Authorities continue to search for other high-ranking members of the Irani gang, including dangerous criminals known as Kala Irani, Shaheb Ali, Sartaj, and Ali Haider. Investigators note that the gang’s members rarely cooperate with police, making the interrogation of Raju Dakait a crucial step in dismantling the syndicate.