The Delhi Police have arrested a gang of four robbers — dubbed the ‘Irani gang’ — on Friday for duping and cheating innocent elderly women by posing as CBI and Delhi Police officials. Two of the arrested persons were also wanted by the Mumbai police for cases under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
Inspired by movie
The accused were identified as Naasir Hafiz Khan, Asu Shahjman Saiyad, Barkat Ali and Zafar Abbas Amjad Seikh. Inspired by the film ‘Special 26’, the accused would spot elderly women on a lonely street and tell them fake stories of robbery and theft in the area and would ask them to put their jewellery safely in a cover provided by the accused. Then another member would discreetly replace the jewellery with fake ones and hand the cover back to the victim, who realises that they had been robbed only once they reach home.
The accused were arrested after Ramesh Kumari Verma filed an FIR stating that she was robbed of her jewellery on April 9 near Rajouri Garden in a similar fashion.
Roots in Persia
The police swung into action and received specific information about the members coming to Masjid Lane Bhogal, from where they were nabbed.
The police said that the gang has its roots in Persia and their ancestors were brought by Golconda Kings as their bodyguards. “Because of their strong physique and bravery then they were considered to be the finest warriors.Today, they may have lost the warrior touch, but are experts in cheating people by posing as policemen,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vijay Kumar explaining why police across states have named them ‘Irani gang’. The police have recovered a stolen scooter, three fake identity cards of the Delhi Police.
