Muskan Sharma Murder: Suspect’s Criminal Record Comes Under Scanner

New Delhi, August 29, 2026 The investigation into the murder of 21-year-old Muskan Sharma has taken a new turn following the arrest of Mohammad Imran, alias Aqib. Delhi Police have uncovered details of his alleged criminal history, including an earlier POCSO case and a culpable homicide case. The revelations have also brought renewed scrutiny to the harassment Muskan reportedly faced before her death and whether stronger action earlier could have prevented further offences. Police said Imran was booked under the POCSO Act in 2018 in Tilak Nagar for sexually harassing a minor. The case also included allegations of stalking, voluntarily causing hurt, outraging the modesty of a woman and common intention. In 2021, he was also named in a culpable homicide case linked to an alleged attack in October 2020, when he reportedly struck a man with a stone slab, causing severe head injuries and leaving him in a coma. The victim remained in hospital for six days, and the case was registered the following year on the orders of a court. Investigators are also examining Imran’s Instagram activity, including a 2019 video in which a man is seen firing three rounds from a pistol. After Muskan’s killing, police said Imran repeatedly changed his location, making the search difficult. Investigators suspect he took Muskan’s iPhone after the murder, possibly to remove chats, messages and other digital evidence. They are also examining whether he had gone live on social media shortly before the incident and threatened Muskan. According to media reports, Muskan had stopped responding to his calls and blocked him online, while he allegedly continued attempting to contact her through different numbers. DCP (West) Vichitra Veer said police spotted a suspicious person near the sub-registrar’s office in Rajouri Garden on Thursday evening and identified him as Imran. When officers attempted to arrest him, police said he opened fire, following which they retaliated. Eleven rounds were fired in total—four by Imran and seven by police. Three police bullets struck him in both legs, including the knee area. He was subsequently taken to hospital and remains under treatment. “As Imran remains hospitalised, investigators have not yet been able to question him about the source of the weapon and the motive behind the murder,” police said. The case has also highlighted the alleged harassment Muskan experienced before her death. Police said her family approached them in July over claims that Imran was stalking and harassing her near her home, although no formal complaint was filed. He was later sent to a drug de-addiction centre, but the alleged harassment reportedly continued. Muskan and Imran had known each other for around one-and-a-half to two years through a local gym and were reportedly in a relationship. Police said chats recovered from Muskan’s phone indicated frequent arguments, harassment and Imran’s suspicion that she was talking to another man. On August 26, Muskan was alone at her Old Mahavir Nagar home when Imran allegedly arrived at around 5.40 pm. Police said an argument followed, after which he strangled her and stabbed her three times in the chest and abdomen. CCTV footage reportedly showed him entering the building and leaving around 25 minutes later with Muskan’s phone. A domestic help later found her lying in a pool of blood and rushed her to hospital. Muskan was a fashion content creator and model and was pursuing her graduation through Delhi University’s School of Open Learning. The investigation is now focused on establishing the complete sequence of events, the motive behind the killing and the source of the weapon.