Former Punjab DGP and Minister Wife Booked After Son’s Death

Chandigarh: Former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Mohammad Mustafa and his wife Razia Sultana, who served as a minister in the previous Congress government, have been booked on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy in connection with the death of their son, Akil Akhter, in Panchkula, Haryana.
Reports have suggested that the alleged relationship between Akhter’s father and his wife may have been a factor leading to his death. However, the police have not confirmed this claim. Along with Mustafa and Sultana, Akhter’s wife and sister have also been named as accused in the case.
The Haryana Police said the case was registered on October 20 under Sections 103(1) and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relate to murder and criminal conspiracy, after a man named Shamshuddin filed a complaint alleging foul play in Akhter’s death. Akhter, an advocate, was found dead at his residence in Sector 4, MDC, Panchkula, on October 16.
According to Panchkula DCP Srishti Gupta, the family informed the police that Akhter was found dead inside his room when they opened the door. Initially, no foul play was suspected, and the body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination.
However, the situation changed after social media videos and posts surfaced, purportedly recorded by the deceased before his death, in which he made serious allegations against his family and expressed fear for his life. The complaint by Shamshuddin referred to one such video posted in August, where Akhter accused his father, wife, and other family members of causing him severe stress and mental trauma.
In the video, Akhter said he felt his family would try to frame him in a false case or even have him killed, claiming they were attempting to portray him as delusional or mentally unstable. “They are trying to establish a false narrative,” he said in the video.
Shamshuddin, who said he knew the family well, stated in his complaint that there was simmering discontent between Akhter and his family members. He also pointed out that Akhter’s video clearly indicated that he felt his life was in danger.
However, in a later video, Akhter appeared to retract his earlier claims, saying he had made those statements due to his mental illness and that he was “blessed with such a good family.”
“In view of his prior statements and the serious allegations made in the earlier video, the cause of death requires a thorough, fair, and impartial investigation,” the complaint stated.
Following the complaint, the Panchkula Police registered an FIR on October 20 at Police Station MDC and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of an ACP-rank officer.
“The investigation will be conducted with an open mind and without prejudice, ensuring that no guilty person is spared and no innocent person suffers,” DCP Srishti Gupta said. The police added that the SIT will carry out a comprehensive and scientific probe into all aspects surrounding the case.
Mustafa, a retired 1985-batch IPS officer, had also served as the DGP of the Punjab Human Rights Commission, while his wife, Razia Sultana, was a minister in the previous Punjab Congress government.