Wastik, who had recently been in the spotlight for his controversial statements and online content, was found to be a convicted accused in a 1995 case involving the abduction and killing of a 13-year-old boy in northeast Delhi. He had managed to evade law enforcement for over two decades by frequently changing identities and locations.

From Martial Arts Instructor to Fugitive Convict

The case dates back to 1995, when Sandeep Bansal, the son of a local businessman, was kidnapped. The following day, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs 30,000 and threatened to kill the child. During the investigation, suspicion fell on Saleem Khan, now identified as Saleem Wastik, who was then a martial arts instructor at the boy's school.

During questioning, he confessed to the crime, and the victim's body was recovered based on his disclosure. In 1997, a court sentenced Saleem Khan and his associate Anil to life imprisonment.

However, in 2000, Saleem secured interim bail from the Delhi High Court and subsequently went missing. Though the High Court upheld his conviction in 2011, he had already disappeared, assuming new identities to avoid capture.

Changed Identity, Declared Himself 'Dead'

Police said the accused even declared himself dead to mislead authorities. He later adopted the name Saleem Ahmed, also known as Saleem Wastik, and moved across Haryana and Uttar Pradesh before eventually settling in Loni, Ghaziabad, where he reportedly ran a clothing business.

Investigators confirmed his identity using old records, fingerprints, and photographs before arresting him from Loni.

Recent Knife Attack Brought Him Back Into Spotlight

The arrest comes months after Wastik survived a violent knife attack at his home office in Ashok Vihar Colony, Loni, in February. According to police, two unidentified assailants entered his office around 9 am and attacked him repeatedly with knives, targeting his neck and abdomen.

One attacker allegedly attempted to slit his throat, while the other stabbed him in the stomach. The duo fled the scene immediately, causing panic in the area. Wastik was critically injured in the assault. In March, Uttar Pradesh Police killed one of the accused in an encounter.

Online Presence and Public Profile

Wastik runs two YouTube channels and has appeared on several television programmes. His main channel, where he identifies as 'Ex-Muslim', hosts 179 videos and has around 28,400 subscribers.

Author : Sushil Kumar Pandey