Chandigarh: The Haryana government has formally requested the Centre to transfer the investigation into the death of former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Mohammad Mustafa’s son, Aqil Akhter, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Official sources confirmed on Thursday that the probe will be handed over once the Centre approves the state’s recommendation.

Akhter, 35, was found dead at his residence in Haryana’s Panchkula on 16 October under what police described as “suspicious circumstances.” Following a complaint from a man named Shamshuddin of Malerkotla, Punjab, the Panchkula police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on 20 October under Sections 103(1) and 61, related to murder and criminal conspiracy.

Those named in the FIR include Aqil Akhter’s father, former Punjab DGP Mohammad Mustafa, his mother and former minister Razia Sultana, his wife, and his sister. The complainant, Shamshuddin from Malerkotla, who claimed to know the family personally, alleged foul play in Aqil’s death and referred to a purported video recorded by him in August. In the video, Aqil reportedly made serious allegations against his family members, accusing them of attempting to have him imprisoned and malign his character. He also levelled personal accusations against his father, mother, sister, and wife, which the family has strongly denied.

Mohammad Mustafa, a retired 1985-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who previously served as Punjab DGP (Human Rights), has rejected all allegations as “completely false.” Speaking to reporters in Saharanpur earlier this week, he said he welcomed the registration of a case, asserting that an impartial probe would “reveal the truth.”

Mustafa stated that his son had been under medical treatment in Panchkula and was suffering from severe mental health issues, including psychotic episodes and substance abuse, for nearly two decades. He added that Aqil often became violent due to his illness.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Panchkula police, which had been probing the case before the CBI recommendation, said the cause of death was still undetermined. The viscera samples have been sent for chemical examination to ascertain the cause.

The case has drawn attention due to the political and administrative prominence of the family, with both Mustafa and his wife having held senior roles in Punjab’s police and government.
(With PTI inputs)