Ahmedabad, Gujarat – In a significant breakthrough in a transnational human trafficking investigation, Gujarat’s State Monitoring Cell (SMC) arrested Zakir alias Rajubhai alias Sameer Karim Sait—one of the most wanted accused—in Hyderabad on the night of April 20. Zakir had been absconding for over six years and was a key figure in an elaborate racket that illegally smuggled Indian nationals into the United States via forged documents and passports.
The arrest was made based on a coordinated operation involving technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs. SMC officials tracked Zakir to Flat No. 1201, Block-A, Jaibhari The Summit Residency, Narsinghi, Hyderabad. He was apprehended and brought to the SMC headquarters in Gandhinagar by 11:30 pm the same night.
Authorities stated that Zakir was a close associate of Bharat alias Bobby Rambhai Patel, the main accused in the case. A Look Out Circular and a Red Corner Notice from Interpol had been issued against Zakir due to the gravity of his involvement.
Zakir, a Mumbai resident, allegedly played a vital role in arranging fake passports and travel documents. His operation involved routing clients from Ahmedabad to Delhi and then to various European countries, using those nations as transit points before illegally crossing the Mexico-US border.
Following the registration of the case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Indian Passport Act, Zakir fled India—initially to Paris, then hopping across Europe, before heading to Dubai and Nepal. He finally settled in Hyderabad to evade arrest.
During interrogation, Zakir confessed to being actively involved in coordinating forgery operations from Delhi and managing immigration logistics. Items seized during the arrest include a mobile phone, ₹5,000 in cash, and an identification card. He is also wanted in a separate case registered at Delhi’s IGI Airport Police Station for a similar offense.
So far, 11 individuals have been arrested in the case, including Bharat Patel. Three accused are in judicial custody, and a chargesheet has been filed. Investigations are ongoing to uncover additional links and collaborators in this high-profile human trafficking ring.
