Shahjahanpur: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) scored a major success with the arrest of the notorious criminal Salig aka Rehan Irani, who was wanted for various criminal activities and had a bounty of ₹50,000 on his head. The STF apprehended him from Nagpur, Maharashtra, on January 10, 2025, at around 5 PM.
Recovery of Stolen Goods
Along with the arrest, the STF recovered several valuable items from the accused. These included:
- 14 gold chains, weighing approximately 80 grams
- 2 mobile phones
- 2 trolley bags
- ₹10,000 in cash
The arrest took place in the Kodari Nagar area of Nagpur, marking a significant blow to the criminal gang Salig was affiliated with.
The STF Operation
The operation was led by Inspector Pramod Kumar Verma under the supervision of Satya Sen Yadav, Additional Superintendent of Police, STF, Lucknow. The team, including Sub-Inspector Virendra Singh Yadav, Head Constable Prabhat Kumar, Head Constable Vijendra Nath Rai, Constable Amit Kumar Yadav, and Driver Afzal, worked diligently to gather intelligence about the criminal’s whereabouts.
STF officials had received reliable information that Salig, who had been on the run for a long time, was planning to flee to Iraq from Hyderabad. Acting swiftly on this information, the team tracked him down to Nagpur and successfully apprehended him.
Criminal Background of Salig aka Rehan Irani
Upon interrogation, the accused revealed his association with an organized gang responsible for multiple robberies and thefts across several states. Salig admitted to participating in more than a dozen robberies in Bhopal in 2014, alongside his accomplices Sahadat Hussain Irani (alias Shadab), Gulam (alias Kakdi), and Abbasi.
One of the most significant crimes Salig confessed to was the robbery of gold jewelry on November 13, 2024, in Lucknow. Along with his gang members, he impersonated police officers and looted 237 grams of gold ornaments from Shivshankar Shukla, a salesman for Mateshwari Gold Jewelers, who was on his way to Pratapgarh. This robbery was registered under case 628/2024, Section 304 BNS at Kotwali Police Station, Pratapgarh.
Criminal Cases Against Salig
Salig has a long criminal record, with numerous cases of robbery (Section 392 of the Indian Penal Code) registered against him. Some of the notable cases include:
- Case 55/2014, Section 392, Gandhi Nagar Police Station, Bhopal
- Case 105/2014, Section 392, Habibganj Police Station, Bhopal
- Case 116/2014, Section 392, Ayodhya Nagar Police Station, Bhopal
- Case 628/2024, Section 304 BNS, Kotwali Police Station, Pratapgarh
These are just a few of the many cases he is involved in, showcasing his criminal activities over the years.
Ongoing Legal Actions
Currently, the STF has handed over the accused to the Pratapgarh police, where he will face charges under Section 304 BNS. Local authorities are taking further legal actions to ensure justice is served.
STF officials have lauded the successful operation, emphasizing the importance of intelligence-based policing and the relentless pursuit of criminals who pose a threat to public safety. The arrest of Salig marks a significant victory in curbing organized crime in Uttar Pradesh.
