Police said Aqib stabbed and strangled her after she decided to end their relationship.
The prime accused in the murder of 21-year-old Delhi University student Muskan Sharma was arrested after an exchange of fire with police in Rajouri Garden, officers said on Friday. Aqib alias Imran, 26, allegedly fired four rounds when a police team tried to apprehend him near the Sub-Registrar Office around 11.15 p.m. on Thursday. Police said, they fired seven rounds in self-defence, hitting him three times in the legs. No police personnel were injured. “The police team repeatedly asked him to surrender. Instead, he suddenly took out a pistol and opened fire towards the police party,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Hareshwar Swami said. Muskan, a second-year student of Delhi University’s School of Open Learning, was found murdered at her Tilak Nagar residence on August 26. Police said Aqib, who had known her for around 18 months, stabbed and strangled her after she decided to end their relationship. Earlier on July 18, the victim had approached a police station alleging harassment by Aqib, but did not submit a formal complaint. Police said he was later sent to a de-addiction centre and released on July 30 after allegedly harming himself. A CCTV footage of August 26 showed Aqib entering her residence around 5.45 p.m. and leaving about 15 minutes later, police said. A case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at Tilak Nagar police station on August 27. A separate case under the BNS and Arms Act was registered at Rajouri Garden police station. Police said Aqib had previously been booked in two cases, including one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Published - August 29, 2026 12:59 am IST
