In March 2025, a gruesome murder case in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, sent shockwaves across the nation. The case, involving the brutal killing of a former Merchant Navy officer by his wife and her lover, has captivated public attention due to its chilling details and the cold-blooded nature of the crime. This blog post delves into the intricate details of the case, exploring the background, the crime itself, and the subsequent investigation that unfolded.
The Victim: Saurabh Rajput
Saurabh Rajput, a 29-year-old former Merchant Navy officer, was the unfortunate victim of this heinous crime4. Born and raised in Meerut, Saurabh had aspirations of building a successful career and a happy family life. He had worked in the Merchant Navy but later resigned from his position to spend more time with his wife, a decision that created discord within his family.
In 2023, facing financial difficulties, Saurabh moved to London to work at a bakery. Despite telling his family he was in the Merchant Navy, he was actually employed at a bakery in the English capital. This deception would later become a point of contention in the investigation.
The Accused: Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla
At the center of this horrific crime are two individuals: Muskan Rastogi, Saurabh’s wife, and Sahil Shukla, her lover.
Muskan Rastogi
Muskan, 27 years old at the time of the crime, had been married to Saurabh since 2016. Their marriage was a love marriage, against the wishes of Saurabh’s family. The couple had a daughter in 2019, who was five years old at the time of the murder.
Sahil Shukla
Sahil, 25 years old, was Muskan’s lover and co-conspirator in the murder. He and Muskan had known each other since childhood, having studied together from first to eighth grade. They reconnected in 2019 through a WhatsApp group created by a mutual classmate, three years after Muskan’s marriage to Saurabh.
The Background: A Marriage Unraveling
The marriage between Saurabh and Muskan began to deteriorate soon after their daughter’s birth in 2019. Saurabh discovered that Muskan was engaged in an extramarital affair with his friend, Sahil Shukla4. This revelation led to significant strain in their relationship, and divorce was considered. However, Saurabh ultimately chose to remain in the marriage for the sake of his daughter.
As tensions grew, the couple moved into a rented home. Saurabh’s family later alleged that Muskan had married him for financial gain and that he placed unwavering trust in her. Saurabh’s struggles with alcohol further strained their relationship.
The Crime: A Premeditated Murder
The murder of Saurabh Rajput was not a crime of passion but a meticulously planned act of violence. The events unfolded as follows:
The First Attempt
On February 25, 2025, Muskan and Sahil made their first attempt to kill Saurabh but failed. This unsuccessful attempt only strengthened their resolve to carry out their sinister plan.
The Fatal Day: March 4, 2025
On March 4, 2025, Saurabh returned to his home from an overseas assignment to celebrate his wife Muskan Rastogi’s birthday. Unbeknownst to him, Muskan and Sahil had been plotting his murder.
The Drugging
Muskan had carefully planned to drug Saurabh before the murder. She had tampered with her husband’s prescription to purchase sleeping pills. She bought the pills from Usha Medical Store, showing a prescription on her mobile phone. This premeditated act shows the level of planning that went into the crime.
That evening, Muskan and Sahil mixed sedatives into Saurabh’s food4. Once he was unconscious, they proceeded with their gruesome plan.
The Murder
With Saurabh unconscious, Sahil reportedly stabbed him to death while Muskan assisted. The post-mortem report revealed the brutality of the attack. Saurabh was stabbed in the heart with extreme force three times. “The blows from the sharp long knife pierced deep inside the heart,” one of the doctors reported.
Dismemberment and Concealment
After the murder, Muskan and Sahil dismembered Saurabh’s body into approximately 15 pieces using sharp tools. The post-mortem report revealed that Saurabh’s head was severed from the body, both hands were cut off from the wrist, and his legs were bent backwards.
To conceal the crime, they placed the body parts inside a large plastic drum, filled it with cement, and sealed it shut. The drum was stored in their rented apartment in Meerut’s Indira Nagar area.
The Aftermath: A Chilling Vacation
In a shocking display of callousness, Muskan and Sahil set off on a vacation to Himachal Pradesh immediately after committing the crime5. They stayed in Manali, Kasol, and Shimla from March 10 to March 16, 20253.
During their stay, the couple exhibited bizarre behavior:
- They remained in their hotel room throughout the day, only leaving once for a brief outing in their car.
- They had minimal interaction with the hotel staff and did not even let them clean their room1.
- They checked into the hotel under the pretense of being a married couple, even registering themselves as husband and wife in the hotel register3.
Perhaps most disturbingly, while on this vacation, Muskan and Sahil continued to mislead Saurabh’s family by sending them messages from his phone.
The Investigation: Unraveling the Truth
The murder came to light on March 18, 2025, when Muskan confessed to her mother, who reported her to the police5. The confession led to a swift investigation and the arrest of both Muskan and Sahil.
Discovery of the Body
When officers searched the rented apartment, they detected a foul smell emanating from the premises. Upon investigation, they discovered the cement-filled drum containing Saurabh’s dismembered remains4.
Interrogation and Confession
During the interrogation, both Muskan and Sahil confessed to the crime4. They revealed the horrifying details of how they had planned and executed the murder.
Post-Mortem Findings
The post-mortem report revealed the full extent of the brutality inflicted on Saurabh. Doctors who conducted the examination were visibly shaken by their findings. The report stated that:
- Saurabh was stabbed in the heart three times with extreme force.
- His head was severed from the body.
- Both hands were cut off from the wrist.
- His legs were bent backwards, suggesting an attempt to fit the body in the drum.
The cause of death was attributed to shock and excessive bleeding.
Shocking Revelations
As the investigation progressed, several disturbing details came to light:
Black Magic Connection
Police found evidence suggesting that Sahil may have been involved in occult practices. After the murder, Sahil allegedly took Saurabh’s severed head and hands to his room and performed black magic9. Investigators found eerie images, sketches of dragons, and other strange symbols in Sahil’s room9.
Sahil’s Background
Investigations revealed that Sahil was addicted to drugs and believed in the supernatural. He was described as a reserved individual who rarely spoke to others and spent most of his time in his house, which he shared with his elderly grandmother.
Financial Transactions
The investigation also uncovered significant financial transactions. Saurabh had transferred ₹2.5 lakh to his mother’s account and had sent money to Muskan’s parents’ account as well. These transactions became a point of contention, with Muskan’s parents denying any financial irregularities.
The Child’s Knowledge
In a heartbreaking revelation, Saurabh’s mother, Renu Devi, stated that their six-year-old daughter had been telling neighbors, “Papa is in the drum.” This statement suggests that the child may have witnessed some part of the horrific crime5.
Legal Proceedings
Following their arrest, both Muskan and Sahil were charged with murder. The legal proceedings have begun, but with an unexpected twist:
Muskan’s Family Disowns Her
In a significant development, Muskan’s parents publicly announced that they would not provide any legal assistance to their daughter and have decided to cut all ties with her.
Muskan’s mother, Kavita, stated, “We will never meet her or fight for her. This is not just a normal case. This is a major crime. Just as an infected body part is cut off, we have cut ties with her.”
Request for Government Lawyer
Given her family’s stance, Muskan has requested a government lawyer to fight her case. In an application to the jail authorities, she stated, “Since the incident, my parents are angry with me, no one will fight for me. Therefore, I want a government lawyer who can fight my case in the court.”
Societal Impact and Public Reaction
The Meerut murder case has sent shockwaves through Indian society, raising questions about the sanctity of marriage, the influence of extramarital affairs, and the extent of human cruelty. The case has been widely covered in the media, with each new revelation adding to the public’s horror and fascination.
Media Coverage
The case has received extensive coverage in both national and local media. News channels and newspapers have been providing regular updates on the investigation, often with sensationalized headlines that highlight the gruesome nature of the crime.
Social Media Response
On social media platforms, the case has sparked intense discussions. Many users have expressed their shock and disbelief at the brutality of the crime. Others have used the case as a springboard to discuss broader societal issues such as marital infidelity, domestic violence, and the importance of mental health.
Expert Opinions
Psychologists and criminologists have weighed in on the case, attempting to understand the mindset that could lead to such a heinous act. Many have pointed to the premeditated nature of the crime as particularly disturbing, indicating a level of planning and cold-bloodedness that is rare even in murder cases.
Lessons and Reflections
While the Meerut murder case is undoubtedly a tragedy, it also serves as a stark reminder of several important issues:
- The Importance of Open Communication in Relationships: The breakdown of communication between Saurabh and Muskan, and Muskan’s decision to pursue an extramarital affair rather than address the issues in her marriage, ultimately led to this tragic outcome.
- The Dangers of Infidelity: This case starkly illustrates the potential consequences of extramarital affairs, not just on the individuals involved, but on their families and society at large.
- Mental Health Awareness: The actions of Muskan and Sahil, particularly their ability to carry out such a brutal act and then go on vacation, raise questions about their mental state. This underscores the importance of mental health awareness and intervention.
- The Role of Family and Society: The case highlights the complex dynamics of family relationships, societal expectations, and the pressure these can put on individuals.
- The Need for Vigilance: The fact that this crime went undetected for several days, despite the suspicious circumstances, serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and prompt reporting of missing persons.
Conclusion
The Meerut murder case of 2025 is a chilling reminder of the depths of human cruelty and the devastating consequences of betrayal. It has shocked the nation with its brutality and the cold-blooded nature of its execution.
As the legal proceedings continue, many questions remain unanswered. What drove Muskan and Sahil to commit such a heinous act? Could this tragedy have been prevented? How will this affect the lives of those left behind, particularly the young child caught in the middle of this horrific situation?
While we may never fully understand the motivations behind this crime, it serves as a grim reminder of the importance of addressing relationship issues, mental health concerns, and societal pressures before they escalate to unthinkable acts of violence.
As society grapples with the implications of this case, one can only hope that it will lead to greater awareness, better support systems, and a renewed commitment to addressing the underlying issues that can lead to such tragedies. The memory of Saurabh Rajput, and the shock waves his murder has sent through the nation, should serve as a catalyst for positive change in how we approach relationships, mental health, and societal expectations.
Citations:
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/love-betrayal-a-cemented-body-haunting-details-so-far-in-meerut-merchant-navy-officers-murder-101742690182910.html
- https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/meerut-murder-case-update-latest-news-accused-trip-himachal-pradesh-vacation-former-merchant-navy-officer-7986073
- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/meerut-woman-lover-fed-husband-sedative-killed-himachal-vacation-uttar-pradesh-murder-chilling-details-2696579-2025-03-20
- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/meerut-mur
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