The investigation into the mysterious death of Akeel Akhtar, son of former Punjab DGP Mohammad Mustafa, has taken a complex turn as police uncover new evidence pointing to possible drug links and family conflict. Officials have confirmed that Akeel’s personal diary, recently handed over by his family, contains multiple entries written on different dates. These entries are now under scrutiny, as several items recovered from the scene “prima facie seem to be related to drugs,” according to SIT head ACP Vikram Nehra. The seized materials have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis to determine their exact nature and potential connection to Akeel’s death.
Nehra stated that the diary’s contents largely mirror Akeel’s statements in a viral video he recorded before his death. “We took the diary into possession and are examining its contents closely,” he said, adding that investigators are still in the early stages of analyzing the crime scene. The team has yet to recover Akeel’s electronic devices, including his phone, which could hold crucial evidence about his communications and mental state leading up to his death. “We are trying to obtain these from the family as soon as possible so that the investigation can progress,” Nehra added, underscoring that the inquiry remains at a preliminary stage.
Akeel, aged 35, was found dead at his home in Panchkula in August. His family initially reported that he died due to a drug overdose. However, a complaint filed by his neighbor, Shamshuddin Chaudhary, suggested foul play and referred to a disturbing 16-minute video in which Akeel accused his father, mother, and sister of conspiring against him. In the video, he alleged that his father, Mohammad Mustafa, had an affair with his wife, and claimed that his family members were trying to kill him or falsely implicate him in a case. He further claimed that he had been “falsely detained,” sent to rehabilitation without consent, and deprived of his business income.
The emergence of this video prompted the police to register an FIR under sections 103(1) (murder) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Mustafa, his wife, and former minister Razia Sultana, their daughter, and daughter-in-law. However, the case grew even more perplexing when another video surfaced later, in which Akeel appeared to retract his accusations. In the second video, he described his earlier statements as “baseless” and said he was suffering from schizophrenia. Yet, in a contradictory turn, he ended that same video by saying, “Let’s see what comes out of life, whether they eventually kill me,” leaving investigators and the public uncertain about his true state of mind.
The controversy has since spilled into the political arena. The complainant, Chaudhary, has a history of shifting political affiliations, having previously been associated with both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal. This has led to speculation that his motives may not be entirely neutral. AAP MLA from Malerkotla, Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rahman, confirmed that Chaudhary briefly worked with AAP but was later removed due to internal complaints. Despite this, Chaudhary maintains that his only goal is to “uncover the truth behind Akeel’s death.”
Mustafa, a 1985-batch retired IPS officer, has firmly denied all allegations, calling them “completely false and fabricated.” He asserted that the truth would emerge once the law takes its course. Mustafa also stated that Akeel had long battled drug addiction and mental health challenges, implying that his son’s instability may have influenced both the videos and the tragic outcome. He described the complainant as “a big fraud playing into someone’s hands,” hinting at possible external manipulation in the case.
The investigation continues amid intense public attention and political friction. Forensic results and digital evidence are expected to play a decisive role in determining whether Akeel’s death was indeed a case of overdose, suicide, or something far more sinister.
