Former Punjab DGP, Wife Booked in Son Aqil Akhtar’s Death

In a shocking twist to a family tragedy, Haryana Police have booked former Punjab DGP Mohammad Mustafa and his wife, former minister Razia Sultana, in the alleged murder of their 35-year-old son, Aqil Akhtar, following viral social media posts hinting at threats against his life. The case, initially deemed a natural death, has now become one of Punjab’s most sensational murder probes in recent times. Police registered an FIR under Sections 103(1) and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing criminal conspiracy and murder.

Aqil Akhtar was found unconscious at his home in Panchkula’s Sector 4 on the night of October 16. He was rushed to a local hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Initially, the family claimed Aqil had died of a drug overdose, and a post-mortem was conducted the following day before his last rites were performed in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. However, Aqil’s prior social media posts raised suspicion, prompting authorities to reopen the case and investigate potential foul play.

The controversy escalated when family acquaintance Shamshudeen Chaudhary shared Aqil’s August social media video, where Aqil alleged that his father and wife were involved in an affair and claimed he feared for his life. In one video, Aqil said, “I have discovered my wife's affair with my dad. I am in a lot of stress and mental trauma… I feel every day that they will frame me in a false case.” He also implicated his mother and sister, claiming they were part of a conspiracy to have him falsely imprisoned or killed.

Aqil further alleged that his family labelled him “mentally unstable” and confined him to a rehabilitation centre against his will. He stated, “This confinement was illegal because I was not intoxicated… They threaten me that if I take any step against them, they will get me framed in a rape or a murder case.” In later videos, Aqil appeared to retract his statements, attributing them to mental health issues, yet he continued to express fear for his life, saying, “Will they get me killed? They are all scoundrels.”

The Panchkula Police have now constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an ACP-rank officer to ensure a thorough, impartial, and evidence-based investigation. Deputy Commissioner Srishti Gupta said, “The SIT will investigate with an open mind and without prejudice, ensuring no guilty person is spared and no innocent person suffers.”

Mohammad Mustafa, who retired as Punjab DGP in 2021, later joined the Congress, while his wife Razia Sultana served as a three-time MLA from Malerkotla and was a cabinet minister from 2017 to 2022. The ongoing investigation has captured nationwide attention, highlighting the intersection of social media evidence and high-profile family disputes in criminal probes.