New Delhi
The accused, who was allegedly absconding for over three decades, was apprehended from Loni in Uttar Pradesh following sustained surveillance and verification efforts by the police.
According to officials, Salim Wastik, also known as Salim Ahmed or Salim Khan, was wanted in a 1995 case involving the abduction and murder of a 13-year-old boy. The arrest was carried out by a team of the Anti-Robbery and Serious Crime unit of the Crime Branch under the supervision of senior officers, marking a significant breakthrough in a long-pending case.
Police records indicate that the incident dates back to January 20, 1995, when Sandeep Bansal, a student and son of a local businessman in North East Delhi, left his home to attend school but did not return. His family initially conducted a search but grew concerned when he failed to come back. The following day, they reportedly received a phone call informing them that the boy had been kidnapped.
Soon after, another call was allegedly made demanding a ransom of Rs 30,000 for the child’s safe release. The caller instructed the victim’s father to deliver the money at a bus stand near the Loni flyover and place it inside a specific bus heading towards Baghpat. The family was also warned not to inform the police, with threats issued regarding the safety of the child.
Despite the threats, a case was registered at the Gokulpuri police station under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code related to kidnapping. During the investigation, suspicion fell on Salim Khan, who was working as a martial arts instructor at Ramjas School in Daryaganj, where the victim studied. A witness had reportedly stated that the boy was last seen leaving in a rickshaw with a tall man referred to as Masterji.
Officials said the accused had managed to evade arrest for years by frequently changing his identity and location. However, recent intelligence inputs and technical surveillance helped authorities trace him to Loni, where he was finally taken into custody.
The police have stated that further investigation is underway to uncover additional details related to the case and to establish the complete sequence of events. The arrest has brought renewed attention to one of the capital’s long-unsolved criminal cases, offering a sense of closure to the victim’s family after more than three decades.
