ANI file photo
NEW DELHI: The Centre is set to order a CBI probe into the mysterious death of former Punjab DGP Mohammed Mustafa and former Congress minister Razia Sultana’s son Aqil Akhtar in Panchkula, Haryana, last month.While Aqil’s family had claimed he had died of possible health complications due to drug overdose, the emergence of a video in which the deceased had made shocking allegations, including those of a purported affair between his father and his wife, led the Haryana police to file an FIR and form a special investigation team (SIT) to look into role of Mustafa, his wife Razia and Aqil’s wife and sister.The FIR followed the receipt of a complaint by one Shamsuddin, a close acquaintance of the family and social media posts of Aqil Akhtar, some videos and photographs, all of which raise suspicions.Sources in the Central govt said the CBI probe is being ordered on the request of the Haryana govt. The case cuts across state jurisdictions since the death took place in Panchkula and the complaint alleging that Aqil was murdered was made by Shamsuddin, a resident of Malerkotla in Punjab.Aqil’s mother Razia Sultana is a former MLA from Malerkotla and had served as a cabinet minister in the Congress government in Punjab from 2017 to 2022. She lost from Malerkotla in the 2022 state polls.The emergence of videos recorded by Aqil days before his death and a family friend’s account added a shocking twist to the investigation. Aqil can be seen in the video claiming that his family members often told him that he was hallucinating and delusional. “Whenever I give a valid argument, their narrative changes,” he said. The family had sent Aqil to a rehabilitation centre. “I was earlier in rehab. I was clean. This confinement was illegal,” he stated.“I am stressed all the time. I don’t know what to do. Should I file for a protection petition?” he asked while alleging that the family had taken away his money.Aqil said his family was trying to protect its image by claiming that he was “mad”. “They threaten me that if I take any step against them, they will get me framed in a rape or a murder case,” he claimed.“Somebody, please help me,” Aqil pleaded.In another video, Aqil says that whatever allegations he had made against his family members were due to his mental illness. “I was unwell, so I did not understand anything. I am better now. I want to say sorry,” he is heard saying. During this entire time, his face cannot be seen in the video. When he appears, he suddenly says, “Will they get me killed? They are all scoundrels.”
