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Chandigarh: The Haryana Government is set to recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the mysterious death of Aqil Akhtar, son of former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Mohammad Mustafa.
Senior officials in the Panchkula Police confirmed the development on Thursday, citing interstate jurisdictional issues as one of the key reasons for transferring the case to the central agency.
Murder Case Against Mustafa, Wife, and Family Members
Earlier, on October 20, the Haryana Police had registered a murder case against Mohammad Mustafa, his wife and former Punjab minister Razia Sultana, their daughter, and Akhtar’s wife in connection with Aqil’s death.
The FIR, lodged at the Morni Police Station in Panchkula, was based on a complaint filed by Shamshudeen Chaudhary, a resident of Malerkotla. The police invoked Section 103(1) (murder) and Section 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Complaint Cites Video Allegations
In his complaint dated October 17, Chaudhary alleged that Aqil Akhtar had died under mysterious circumstances, and that there had been ongoing discord between him and his family members.
The complaint reproduces a video statement Aqil had posted on social media on August 27, in which he made serious allegations against his father and wife. “He stated that he had discovered illicit relations between his father and his wife, and alleged that his family — including his mother and sister — were conspiring to kill him or implicate him in a false case,” the FIR notes.
In the same video, Aqil reportedly said he feared for his life, expressing apprehension that he might be killed. “The news of his sudden death confirms those fears. It appears to be a clear case of foul play,” the complainant alleged, urging a thorough and impartial investigation.
Mustafa Refutes Allegations, Cites Drug Addiction
Responding to the allegations, Mohammad Mustafa told reporters that his son had been battling drug addiction for nearly 18 years and may have died due to an overdose.
“He often became violent due to his illness, and we as a family have endured immense mental suffering for years,” Mustafa said, maintaining that Aqil’s mental health had deteriorated severely.
Regarding the video, Mustafa claimed it had been uploaded and deleted within two hours, but some individuals had downloaded it and were now “misusing it to malign the family.”
Viscera Report Awaited
Police officials said that the cause of death remains undetermined pending the viscera examination report. The post-mortem had earlier indicated no visible injuries, leaving toxicology analysis crucial to establishing the cause.
The case has attracted wide attention due to the high-profile background of those involved. Officials said the Haryana Government will formally forward the recommendation for a CBI probe to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
