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Former Punjab Director General of Police (Human Rights) Mohammad Mustafa is at the centre of serious allegations involving illicit relations with his daughter-in-law and the murder of his son. The death of Mustafa’s son, Aqeel Akhtar, under suspicious circumstances at the Mansa Devi Complex in Panchkula was initially reported as a drug overdose. However, following a complaint from a neighbour in Malerkotla, Panchkula police have registered a murder case and named Mustafa, his wife Razia Sultana, and daughter-in-law in the First Information Report (FIR). IPS Officer From The 1985 Batch Mohammad Mustafa, a 1985 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, pursued his early education in government schools in Punjab and later graduated with a BA from Khalsa College in Amritsar. After years of hard work, he successfully cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) on his first attempt. Additionally, he completed an LLM from Punjab University. Throughout his career, Mustafa held several high-profile positions within Punjab Police and earned five bravery awards for his efforts in combating terrorism. As Superintendent of Police (SP) in sensitive districts such as Amritsar and Tarn Taran, he was instrumental in cornering notorious Khalistani terrorists and significantly contributing to peace in Punjab. In 2018, he was appointed DGP (Human Rights) before transitioning to politics upon retirement. Grew Close To Captain Amarinder Singh Mustafa’s political journey has been noteworthy as well. He was considered close to former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. His wife, Razia Sultana, served as a Minister in the Punjab cabinet and was elected MLA from Malerkotla three times. Despite his aspirations, Mustafa’s dream of becoming DGP remained unrealised. In 2021, he challenged the UPSC’s decision to appoint Gaurav Gupta as DGP, arguing that he was more senior and had a superior service record and experience. He claimed ‘malafide’ intentions in court, but the case is still pending. Mustafa, along with five other seniors like Siddharth Chattopadhyay, was superseded, leading to tensions within Punjab Police. In Talks After Son’s Death Mustafa and his wife, have been booked for the alleged murder of their 33-year-old son, Aqeel Akhtar, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his Panchkula home on October 16. Akhtar was discovered unconscious and declared dead at a local hospital. While the family initially claimed a drug overdose, police said preliminary findings suggested health complications from medicines he had consumed. An FIR, based on a complaint by Shamshudeen Chaudhary of Malerkotla, alleged foul play in Akhtar’s death and pointed to a video he had posted on August 27, accusing his father and wife of an illicit relationship. He also claimed in the video that his mother and sister were plotting to kill him or implicate him in a false case, saying his life was in danger. Chaudhary said Akhtar’s sudden death validated those fears and urged authorities to examine his video, digital evidence, and post-mortem findings thoroughly. Police have registered a case at Panchkula’s MDC police station and are scrutinising related online content. Panchkula Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Srishti Gupta has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. In his defence, Mustafa said the FIR was part of a political conspiracy to tarnish his family’s image. “Registering an FIR doesn’t prove guilt. The truth will come out soon,” he said, adding that he respected the police for acting on a complaint but blamed “dirty politics and cheap thinking” for the allegations. The former DGP, mourning his son’s death, said his family was shattered but would fight to clear their name. Police said the investigation is underway, and the exact cause of death will be known after the viscera report.
