The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested Salim Wastik, also known as Salim Ahmed, in connection with a 31-year-old kidnapping and murder case dating back to 1995. The accused, who had been living under a false identity for over two decades, was apprehended from Loni in Ghaziabad after police verified his identity using old records, fingerprints, and photographs following a tip-off.
The case relates to the abduction and murder of 13-year-old Sandeep Bansal, the son of a Delhi-based businessman. On January 20, 1995, the boy was kidnapped while he was on his way to school. The following day, his family received a ransom call demanding ₹30,000 for his release, along with threats warning them not to inform the police.
Despite the ransom demand, the child was killed, and his body was later recovered from a drain in the Mustafabad area after disclosures made during the investigation. At the time, police arrested Salim, who worked as a martial arts trainer at the victim’s school, along with an associate named Anil. During interrogation, Salim confessed to the crime and implicated his accomplice. In 1997, both were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a court.
However, in 2000, Salim obtained interim bail from the Delhi High Court but failed to return, effectively becoming an absconder. Over the years, he managed to evade law enforcement by adopting a new identity and even staging his own death to mislead authorities. He later began living under the name Salim Ahmed and gradually built a public persona.
According to investigators, he spent years moving between locations in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh before eventually settling in Loni, where he operated a women’s clothing shop. Despite being a fugitive, he also became active on social media, presenting himself as a YouTuber and self-styled social activist, and was reportedly even in discussions for a film project based on his life.
The breakthrough came when intelligence inputs suggested that a known online personality might in fact be a long-absconding criminal. A team led by Inspector Robin Tyagi cross-checked historical records and confirmed his identity before carrying out the arrest operation. After being taken into custody, Salim Wastik was sent to Tihar Jail.
Police stated that the case demonstrates how sustained investigation, combined with modern identification methods, can eventually lead to the capture of fugitives even after decades. Officials emphasised that changing identities and locations does not permanently shield individuals from legal consequences.
Separately, the accused had recently survived a violent attack on February 27, 2026, when two assailants entered his residence in Loni and carried out a knife assault, seriously injuring him in the neck and abdomen. He was hospitalised and survived the incident. Police later identified the attackers through CCTV footage and the vehicle used in the crime.
Investigators indicated that this incident drew renewed attention to his background and activities, indirectly contributing to the reopening of scrutiny into his past. Authorities continue to examine all aspects of both the old case and recent developments as part of ongoing proceedings.
