Ex-Punjab DGP, former minister charged with murder after son’s mysterious death, victim’s video adds disturbing new details

A former Punjab minister and her husband, who once served as the state’s top police officer, have been accused of murdering their 33-year-old son, just days after he was found dead under mysterious circumstances. The case has taken a dramatic turn with shocking claims about a possible affair within the family. Aqil Akhtar, the son of ex-DGP Mohammed Mustafa and former Punjab minister Razia Sultana, was found unconscious at his home in Panchkula last Thursday. He was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The family initially claimed that he died from a drug overdose, while police said he may have suffered a reaction to some medicines.

However, a video recorded by Aqil a few months earlier and statements from a family friend have added disturbing new details to the case.

What did  Aqil Akhtar say in his video?

In the video, reportedly shot in August, Aqil said he was deeply troubled after discovering that his wife was allegedly in a relationship with his father. “I found out about their affair. I am under a lot of stress and don’t know what to do. I feel like they might frame me in a false case,” he said.

He also claimed that his mother and sister were part of a conspiracy against him. “Their plan is to either get me jailed on fake charges or have me killed,” Aqil alleged. He further said he suspected that his father knew his wife even before their marriage. “From the first day, she refused to be with me. She didn’t marry me, she married my father,” he claimed in the recording.

In the video, Aqil said that his family often dismissed his concerns by calling him “delusional” or “hallucinating.” He claimed that whenever he tried to explain things logically, his family would change the topic. Aqil also said that they had forcibly sent him to a rehabilitation centre. “I was in rehab earlier, but I was clean. Keeping me there was illegal because I wasn’t on drugs. If I was mentally unstable, they should have taken me to a doctor, but they didn’t,” he said.

He appeared emotionally distressed in the video, saying he was constantly under stress and didn’t know what to do next. “Should I focus on clearing my Bar exam first and then file a petition for protection?” he wondered, adding that his family had even taken away his money.

Aqil accused his family of trying to protect their public image by portraying him as “mentally unstable.” “They keep threatening me, saying if I ever speak up, they’ll frame me in a rape or murder case,” he alleged.

What did the cops say?

Deputy Commissioner of Police Srishti Gupta said that at first, the police did not suspect any foul play in Aqil’s death. “Later, we received a complaint claiming that his family members were involved. Some of Aqil’s social media posts, videos, and photos also raised doubts, and based on that, we registered an FIR,” she said.

When asked about the complainant, the officer said that Shamsuddin, a close friend of the family, had filed the complaint. She also confirmed that the police are examining the video recorded by Aqil.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up to probe the allegations against Aqil’s father, former DGP Mohammed Mustafa, his mother and former Punjab minister Razia Sultana, as well as his wife and sister.