Social Activist Salim Wastik Arrested in 31-Year-Old Kidnapping and Murder Case

Arrest of Salim Wastik

New Delhi, April 25: The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has apprehended Salim Wastik, a 54-year-old social activist and YouTuber, known for his provocative remarks and critical stance on Islam, in connection with a kidnapping for ransom and murder case dating back 31 years.

Wastik, also referred to as Salim Ahmed or Salim Khan, was arrested in Loni, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Authorities stated he was wanted for a 1995 case involving the abduction and subsequent murder of a 13-year-old boy. His arrest followed extensive surveillance and confirmation of his identity under the guidance of senior police officials.

The case traces back to January 20, 1995, when Sandeep Bansal, a 13-year-old student and son of a businessman from North East Delhi, left home for school but never returned.

Initially, his family searched for him, but the following day they received a call indicating that he had been kidnapped. Shortly after, another call was made demanding a ransom of Rs 30,000 for his release.

The caller instructed Sandeep's father to deliver the ransom at a bus stand near the Loni Flyover, placing the money inside a specific bus heading to Baghpat, while threatening harm to the child if they contacted the police.

A case was filed at Police Station Gokulpuri under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code concerning kidnapping.

During the initial investigation, suspicion fell on Salim Khan, who was employed as a martial arts instructor at Ramjas School in Daryaganj, where the victim was a student. A witness reported seeing the child leave in a rickshaw with a tall man referred to as 'Masterji.'

Following this lead, police detained Salim Khan, who allegedly revealed the location of the victim's body, which was found in a drain near Mustafabad and later identified by his father.

Further inquiries led to the identification of a co-accused, Anil, who was believed to have played a significant role in the crime and surrendered to the court in February 1995.

Investigators recovered the victim's belongings, including a watch, school bag, and tiffin box from the accused. Both were charged under sections including 302, 364A, and 34 of the IPC.

After a trial, both were convicted in 1997 and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, Salim was granted interim bail in 2000 by the Delhi High Court but failed to return and went into hiding. His conviction was upheld in 2011.

Over the years, he changed his identity to Salim Ahmed and later became known as Salim Wastik, moving through several states, including Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, before settling in Loni, Ghaziabad, where he ran a small business.

Acting on a tip-off, a special team led by Inspector Robin Tyagi, with local police assistance, arrested him after confirming his fingerprints and previous records.

During questioning, Wastik reportedly confessed to living under a false identity after absconding from bail. He had taken on various jobs, including carpentry and small business ventures, to evade capture.

Police sources indicated that he had recently been approached for a biographical film project about his life and had received an advance payment from a producer, which is currently under investigation.

Salim Wastik gained national attention for his strong and controversial comments regarding the Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists. He publicly condemned terrorism and, along with an associate, traveled to Pahalgam to protest against the attack and show support for the victims.

During this visit, they recorded videos denouncing the attack, jihad, and Islam.

Following these events, Wastik claimed they were detained, their social media accounts were suspended, and they faced unlawful treatment from local authorities.

In later public appearances, including a podcast after the April 2025 attack, Wastik accused Pakistan of orchestrating terror activities and criticized cross-border terrorism policies.

He also expressed support for India's counter-terror operations and praised 'Operation Sindoor,' which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan.

Recently, Wastik made headlines when he was attacked in his home on February 27, where two brothers stabbed him 14 times. After a month of treatment, his condition improved. Both attackers were later killed in an encounter.

Wastik, who had renounced Islam, was assaulted by masked individuals who entered his office in broad daylight on a motorcycle without a license plate and stabbed him multiple times, attempting to slit his throat. They fled when he screamed, leaving him severely injured.

In connection with this assault, Uttar Pradesh Police announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the attackers. On March 1, the main suspect, Zeeshan, was killed in a shootout with the UP Special Task Force and Ghaziabad Police. The second suspect, Gulfam, was killed in a separate encounter two days later.

Officials confirmed that Salim Wastik has been taken into judicial custody and is now held in Tihar Jail following the completion of legal procedures. The investigation into the case is ongoing.