Toofani gang’s modus operandi: Steal, splurge, celebrate

Ahmedabad: For members of Ahmedabad’s notorious 'Toofani Gang', every successful theft ended not with laying low but with a celebration. Police said the gang members would use money from stolen vehicles, chain-snatching and street robberies to fund parties, nightlife and gatherings, turning crime into a means of financing a carefree lifestyle.This pattern of post-crime revelry came under the spotlight after local crime branch of Zone V arrested a suspected gang associate and cracked a pending vehicle theft case registered at Bapunagar police station.Acting on a tip-off, LCB officers detained 25-year-old Arbaj Sheikh of Rakhiyal and recovered a stolen two-wheeler. Investigators linked the vehicle to an unsolved theft case.Police said gang members would allegedly encourage one another before heading out to commit thefts, robberies or snatching offences by chanting the popular advertising slogan, “Aaj Kuch Toofani Karte Hain” (Let’s do something daring today).

The phrase became so central to the group’s identity that they eventually named themselves the 'Toofani Gang'.According to investigators, rather than using the proceeds for necessities, gang members would splurge on parties and entertainment after each successful offence, reinforcing a cycle of crime and indulgence.Police said the gang was previously involved in chain-snatching and other street crimes across Ahmedabad.

To avoid detection, members allegedly relied on stolen or untraceable two-wheelers and typically operated during late-night and early-morning hours in the eastern parts of the city.Sheikh, police records show, has nine cases registered against him. These include vehicle theft cases at Gomtipur and Vatva police stations, two chain-snatching cases in Ramol, and one each in Narol, Khokhara and Rakhiyal. He also faces a drunk-driving case registered at Vatva and an assault case at Narol police station.Investigators are now examining whether the recovered vehicle and Sheikh’s alleged role could help resolve additional cases linked to the gang’s activities.