Copyright news18
Former Punjab director general of police (DGP) Mohammad Mustafa described his son, Aqil Akhtar’s death as the “greatest grief a father can bear” while rejecting the murder charge against him and his family. Haryana Police has named Mohammad Mustafa, his wife and former minister Razia Sultana, daughter, and daughter-in-law in an FIR filed in connection with Aqil Akhtar’s death at his Panchkula home. Mustafa, the retired IPS officer, once headed the Punjab Police. He is a 1985-batch IPS officer known for his service record and as the husband of Congress leader Razia Sultana. He said his 35-year-old son had been battling drug addiction for nearly two decades and died of an overdose. He termed the accusations against his family a “politically motivated conspiracy” aimed at maligning him. “There is no greater pain for a father than losing his only son… This tragedy has awakened the soldier within me to stand against those with petty mindsets… No matter the mistakes a child makes, a father always shields them from the world. Yet, some have tried to exploit this situation for petty politics… I have no fear, for we have done nothing wrong… Have you ever heard of a father killing his own son?” Mustafa told news agency ANI. Mustafa said his son’s prolonged battle with addiction had taken an emotional toll on the family. “My son struggled with drug addiction for 18 years. I sought treatment for him at multiple places and even confined him to a room for two to three days,” he said. The former DGP said he had tried every possible way to help Aqil recover, but his addiction was severe and persistent. “In Punjab, drug abuse among youth is rampant. Every day, I read news of youngsters killing their families. But have you ever heard of a father, mother, daughter, or daughter-in-law being involved in such a crime? My son struggled with addiction for 18 years… I count myself among the unlucky fathers facing this unbearable situation,” Mustafa added. He further insisted that Aqil’s death was the result of an overdose and not a criminal act. “This is not a murder case. It’s a tragedy, yet some are trying to politicise it,” he said. Hitting out at the complainant, Shamsuddin Chaudhary, who alleged that Aqil was held hostage, Mustafa said that he has become a pawn of a politician. Chaudhary has also alleged that Aqil had recorded a video making serious claims against his family before his death. “He (Shamsuddin) has become a pawn of a politician… I am not scared of anyone. If you visit a police station to report a complaint, it is the police’s responsibility to register a case. The one paragraph that he gave the police converted it into an FIR. I welcome this and I will fully cooperate with the investigation… If I am guilty, I am ready to be hanged,” Mustafa said. Claiming that political forces were trying to exploit his family’s grief, the former DGP said, “Our family is a high-profile family, that’s why conspiracies are being hatched. I am not one to back down. I have spent my life in service and discipline, and I will face this too,” he said. The Incident Aqil Akhtar was found unconscious at his residence in Sector 4, Panchkula, on October 16 and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The initial police investigation found no evidence of foul play. However, the case took a dramatic turn when certain videos and social media posts surfaced, prompting renewed scrutiny. According to Panchkula deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Shrishti Gupta, an FIR has been registered under sections related to murder and criminal conspiracy. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been set up to probe the case. “Former DGP Mohammad Mustafa and former minister Razia Sultana’s son, Aqil Akhtar, was found dead under suspicious circumstances at his residence in MDC, Panchkula. We received a complaint and based on that, we have now filed an FIR under sections of murder and conspiracy,” Gupta said. The FIR names the deceased’s father, mother, sister, and wife as accused. Police said the investigation will take into account medical and forensic reports as well as digital evidence, including the alleged video that surfaced after Aqil’s death.
