Infamous 1995 Kidnapping Case Resurfaces with Arrest of Notorious Criminal

New Delhi/Ghaziabad. A chilling case from 31 years ago has once again captured attention in Delhi. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has apprehended the infamous criminal Salim Vastik, also known as Salim Ahmed, who had been on the run for a long time. Salim was responsible for the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a businessman’s son in 1995. Interestingly, he was teaching martial arts at the same school the child attended. Over the years, he managed to conceal his identity by becoming a YouTuber and social media activist, but he has now been arrested.

The saga began on January 20, 1995, when 13-year-old Sandeep Bansal left home for school but never returned. The family’s search led to a threatening phone call just hours later, demanding a ransom of 30,000 rupees for the child's safe return, with a clear warning that involving the police would cost the boy his life.

After 14 years, the shocking truth emerged during the investigation: the child had been murdered post-abduction, with his body discovered in a drain in the Mustafabad area of Delhi.

Initially, the police suspected Salim Khan, who was teaching martial arts at a local school. During questioning, he confessed to the crime and implicated his accomplice, Anil. The duo had committed the kidnapping and murder driven by greed.

In 1997, both Salim Khan and Anil were sentenced to life imprisonment. However, by 2000, Salim was granted interim bail by the Delhi High Court, after which he failed to appear in court and went into hiding.

To evade law enforcement, Salim had himself declared dead and completely altered his identity, adopting the names Salim Ahmed and later Salim Vastik. He moved between various cities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, constantly changing his location to avoid capture.

Eventually, he settled in the Loni area of Ghaziabad, where he opened a women's clothing store and pretended to lead a normal life. Neighbors had no idea that he was a fugitive from a notorious murder case.

During his time on the run, Salim also crafted a new persona as a YouTuber and social activist, gaining attention through his videos and statements. The Crime Branch received a tip-off that a YouTuber known as Salim Vastik might actually be the fugitive from the 1995 murder case.

Following this lead, the police began matching old records, photographs, and fingerprints. Their suspicions were confirmed, and a team led by Inspector Robin Tyagi conducted a raid in Loni, resulting in Salim's arrest. After his capture, he admitted to having worked in various places while continuously changing his identity to evade the police.

Connection to Film and Attack

In a surprising twist, it was revealed that a film producer had recently given him an advance of 1.5 million rupees to make a movie about his life. Additionally, in February 2026, he was attacked in Loni, sustaining serious injuries. The police had killed two suspects involved in that incident during an encounter. Salim has now been taken into custody and sent to Tihar Jail. Delhi Police asserts that this arrest demonstrates that no criminal can escape the law indefinitely, no matter how clever they may be.