Online taxi bookings used to execute burglaries, vehicle thefts, ‘Tenimeni gang’ busted in Ahmedabad

The Zone-5 Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Ahmedabad City Police has arrested three members, including a juvenile, of the alleged ‘Tenimeni gang’, which police said was involved in a series of house burglaries and vehicle thefts across the city by using online taxi and Rapido bookings to avoid suspicion.

Police officials said the gang members would hire app-based taxis or two-wheelers to reach targeted residential areas and similarly use hired vehicles to flee after committing the offences, making it difficult for investigators to trace their movements.

According to investigators, the gang was led by Farhan alias ‘Tenimeni’, who allegedly entered the world of crime while still a minor. Police said he had been involved in multiple cases of housebreaking and vehicle theft since adolescence and later formed his own gang after attaining adulthood.

Officers said the accused deliberately kept a juvenile accomplice in the group so that suspicion would be minimised and to facilitate easy entry into houses through narrow bathroom or kitchen windows during burglaries.

The arrests were made by a team led by PSI Kartiksinh Jadeja of the Zone-5 LCB squad. Police recovered stolen property worth approximately ₹ 1.65 lakh from the trio.

During the investigation, police also found that the same gang had earlier been arrested in connection with a high-profile burglary in Navrangpura involving theft worth nearly ₹ 20 lakh. Investigators said the accused had recently completed their sentence in that case and allegedly committed another housebreaking offence in Naroda shortly after being released from jail.

Police said the accused have confessed to their involvement in the recent Naroda burglary and are being questioned regarding other pending property offences across Ahmedabad.

Criminal history of Farhan alias ‘Tenimeni’ Pathan

Police records show that Farhan alias ‘Tenimeni’ Pathan has previously been booked in multiple offences, including:

* Vehicle theft in Gomtipur in 2022

* Vehicle theft under Western Railway jurisdiction in 2023

* Housebreaking in Jamalpur in 2025

* Housebreaking in Navrangpura in 2026

* Vehicle theft in Odhav in 2026

* Chain-snatching in Kalupur in 2026

Criminal history of accused Farhaj Ansari

Police said co-accused Farhaj Ansari was earlier booked in:

* A housebreaking case in Gomtipur in 2025

* A housebreaking offence in Navrangpura in 2026

* A prohibition-related offence in 2026

Police added that he had also previously undergone detention under the PASA Act.

Further investigation into the gang’s alleged involvement in additional property crimes is under way.