Despite widespread social media claims suggesting that Adeel Akbar was involved in espionage, the circumstances surrounding the officer and his death remain unclear. Reports and investigations are still emerging, making it difficult to separate fact from speculation.
Who was Adeel Akbar?
Adeel Akbar was an SP currently serving in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. On October 23, 2025, his body was found in the official vehicle near the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. Early reports said he allegedly shot himself with a service weapon.
Akbar reportedly had been under investigation before his death following certain departmental allegations in Balochistan, which had delayed his promotions and reportedly caused him stress.
Confusion Over Viral Claims
Within days of his death, social media was flooded with posts proclaiming that in fact Adeel Akbar was a spy working for India. Some posts even claimed he assisted Indian agencies in operations like “Operation Sindoor.” These rumors started to spread wildly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
One of the posts said: “SP Islamabad Police Adeel Akbar was an agent of India. He shot himself today. His inputs were very helpful during Operation Sindoor.”
Fact Checking: Separating Rumors From Reality
An official investigation conducted following his death found that none of the charges against Adeel Akbar had been proved. The charges which had earlier been brought against him were, therefore, dismissed, and he was “officially cleared.”
That same investigation produced no reliable information that would confirm his death by suicide. There’s also no such corroboration that would tie him to an espionage/special intelligence mission.
So far, there has been no credible mainstream media or official statement to corroborate the spy allegations. The rumour seems to have originated and spread on social media alone.
Fact & Fiction Separated
Many claims about Adeel Akbar circulated online. One major allegation was that he was an Indian spy working for the Indian intelligence agency. However, there is no credible evidence or official record to support this, and the inquiry into his activities dismissed all such allegations.
Another claim suggested that his death was linked to these alleged espionage activities. Investigations, however, found no link to espionage, and the cause of his death remains officially undefined.
Additionally, several social-media posts quoted supposed insider confessions or claimed that he was part of a ‘spy network.’
These claims remain unverified and have no corroboration from credible sources, highlighting that the spy narrative is based entirely on speculation rather than evidence.
What This Means: Why the Spy Narrative Likely Emerged
Sudden demise, a prior departmental inquiry, and widespread mistrust-especially after high tension geopolitical events-may have combined to breed fertile ground for rumours. The spy label does appear speculative and amplified by the virality of social media rather than hard evidence.
This case also points to a bigger lesson: in politically sensitive contexts, while rumors can spread quickly, verified investigations and official reports remain imperative in the search for truth.
Disclaimer: This editorial is for informational purposes only and does not imply any legal or investigative conclusions beyond what has been publicly verified.
