Police Arrest Muskan Murder Accused After Gunfight in Rajouri Garden
Delhi Police arrested 26-year-old Mohammad Imran, alias Aqib, following an exchange of fire near the sub-registrar's office in Rajouri Garden on Thursday, a day after he allegedly stabbed a 21-year-old student to death at her home in Tilak Nagar.
Imran, the prime accused in the murder of Delhi University student and part-time model Muskan, was injured in the shootout. More than 15 police teams had been formed to track him down after the murder. When a team spotted him and attempted an apprehension, Imran allegedly opened fire. Police said he fired four rounds, prompting officers to retaliate with seven rounds, three of which struck him in the legs. He was shifted to a hospital and placed under arrest.
According to investigators, Imran had known Muskan for approximately 18 months after meeting her at a gym where he worked as a trainer. On July 18, Muskan approached a police station alleging that Imran had been harassing her, though no formal complaint was lodged at that time. Imran also had a history of substance abuse and had been sent to a de-addiction centre, from which he was released on July 30 after allegedly self-harming.
On August 26, Imran allegedly entered Muskan's residence in Tilak Nagar while she was alone. An argument ensued, after which he allegedly stabbed her multiple times with a knife before escaping from the scene. Police stated that Imran also took Muskan's iPhone as he fled, with investigators suspecting he intended to delete chat histories and eliminate his digital footprint.
Police records revealed that Imran had a history of violent criminal offenses. In 2018, he was booked in Tilak Nagar under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually harassing a minor, alongside charges involving stalking, voluntarily causing hurt, and outraging modesty.
In 2021, Imran was named in a case involving assault and culpable homicide following an attack on October 30, 2020. According to the complaint, he allegedly struck a man on the head with a stone slab and hit him on the nose while the victim was on the ground. The victim suffered severe head injuries, slipped into a coma, and remained hospitalised for six days before the case was registered on court orders the following year.
Investigators are currently examining digital evidence, Imran's prior cases, and his movements leading up to the incident.
