The brutal murder of 29-year-old merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, allegedly planned by his wife Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla, has exposed a deeply disturbing narrative of obsession, deception and calculated cruelty. As investigators delved into the case, they uncovered a complicated plot that had been in motion for months. The crime, which took place in Meerut, not only revealed the accused’s careful planning but also their troubling psychological state.
The Murder Plot Unfolds
According to police investigations, the conspiracy to kill Saurabh was devised in November 2024. Muskan and Sahil, determined to remove Saurabh from their lives, spent months planning the crime. They searched for secluded villages by pretending to be casual visitors and to locate places where dead animals were buried—places they initially considered as potential sites to dispose of Saurabh’s body.
On February 22, Muskan took a calculated step by visiting a doctor on Sharda Road by falsely claiming she was suffering from depression. She obtained a prescription for sleeping pills but was not satisfied. Turning to the internet, she researched additional sedatives and narcotics and forged extra drug names onto the prescription. She and Sahil then procured a lethal mix of sleeping pills and sedatives from Khairnagar. Additionally, they purchased two meat-cutting knives, a razor, and polythene bags—items they would later use in the gruesome crime.
The Chilling Execution
On March 3, Saurabh returned home carrying a meal of ‘lauki ke kofte’ that his mother, Renu, had prepared for him. Muskan seized this opportunity, reheating the dish and fastening it with the sedatives. Once Saurabh fell into a deep sleep, she called Sahil to their rented home in Indira Nagar. What followed was a horrific scene—Saurabh, unconscious and defenseless, was stabbed repeatedly by Muskan and Sahil until he succumbed to his injuries.
The next stage of their gruesome act involved dismembering the body. Dragging Saurabh’s corpse into the bathroom, Sahil used a razor to sever his head and hands. Their initial plan was to cut the body into smaller parts, pack them into polythene bags and scatter them across different locations. They started by placing Saurabh’s torso into a bag and hiding it inside the storage compartment of their double bed—where Muskan later slept, directly above her husband’s remains. Meanwhile, Sahil took the severed head and hands to his own home, keeping them there for a full day.
By March 5, the couple abandoned their original disposal plan in favour of a new approach. They purchased a large blue drum from Ghantaghar and cement from a local market. Sahil retrieved the severed head and hands, and together, they placed all body parts into the drum. They then poured a mixture of cement and dust inside, creating a concrete tomb to permanently conceal the evidence. Investigators suspect that the idea may have been inspired by crime films depicting similar disposal methods.
The Disturbing Psychological Profile of the Accused
Muskan Rastogi emerged as the mastermind behind this calculated crime. Married to Saurabh since 2016 in a love marriage that later soured, she harboured growing resentment towards her husband. Despite Saurabh’s efforts to salvage their marriage—choosing to stay together for their six-year-old daughter—Muskan had already rekindled a romantic relationship with Sahil, her childhood acquaintance.
Her physical transformation over time was telling. Once a healthy young woman, she had lost 10 kilograms, a change her family initially attributed to missing Saurabh during his long stays in London. However, the truth was far darker—Sahil had allegedly introduced her to drugs like charas and smack, leading to an addiction that intensified their toxic bond. Her mother, distressed and horrified, later remarked, “Saurabh loved her blindly, but she didn’t deserve him.”
Sahil, on the other hand, exhibited troubling psychological traits. His room was filled with eerie artwork, including one featuring an alien-like face surrounded by cryptic symbols and the phrase, “You cannot trip with us.” Investigators believe that he had a deep interest in the supernatural, which may have been exacerbated by drug use. Muskan allegedly manipulated this belief, creating fake Snapchat IDs to convince Sahil that his deceased mother’s spirit demanded Saurabh’s death as a “sacrifice” for her peace.
The Crime Unraveled
Despite their planning, Muskan and Sahil’s crime did not remain undetected. After sealing Saurabh’s body in the cement-filled drum, they fled to Himachal Pradesh, pretending to be carefree tourists. However, their return on March 17 set off a chain of events that led to their downfall. Their landlord, already suspicious after catching them in a compromising situation months earlier, ordered them to vacate the property.
As labourers attempted to move the drum, they found it unusually heavy and noticed a foul odor emanating from it. The truth soon came to light. In a desperate attempt to access Saurabh’s ₹6 lakh bank account, Muskan confessed the crime to her mother by ultimately leading police to the crime scene.
The Aftermath
The discovery was horrific. The cement had solidified so thoroughly that the drum had to be transported intact to the mortuary, where hours of effort were required to extract Saurabh’s remains. Senior Superintendent of Police Vipin Tada confirmed that Saurabh was killed simply because he stood in the way of Muskan and Sahil’s affair. Their ruthless actions have shocked both the local community and the nation at large.
As the legal process unfolds, the grieving Rajput family is left devastated. Muskan’s own parents, shattered by their daughter’s actions have expressed their support for the harshest possible punishment, demanding the death penalty for her crimes. The arrest of both accused provides a small sense of justice, but the horrifying nature of the case serves as an ugly reminder of the depths of human cruelty and the dangerous consequences of unchecked obsession and addiction.
Challenges of Jail Life: Accused Struggle with Withdrawal Symptoms
In a shocking case that has gripped the public’s attention, Muskan Rastogi and her lover, Sahil Shukla, are currently in judicial custody for their alleged involvement in the brutal murder of Saurabh Rajput. However, beyond the legal battle, the duo is reportedly facing severe difficulties adjusting to life behind bars. According to prison officials at Chaudhary Charan Singh district jail in Meerut, both are suffering from intense drug withdrawal symptoms by making their time in custody even more challenging.
Physical and Emotional Turmoil
Sources within the jail report that Muskan and Sahil appear to be in a state of extreme distress. They are struggling to sleep and are refusing food and water. While some speculate that their behaviour may be due to feelings of guilt over the crime, officials believe it is largely a result of withdrawal from substance use. Senior Jail Superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma confirmed that both individuals had a history of prolonged drug consumption, which has led to symptoms of restlessness and severe discomfort. Medical professionals have stepped in to manage their condition by prescribing appropriate medication, and a specialized team is closely monitoring their health.
A History of Substance Abuse
Investigations conducted by the police have revealed that the two accused regularly consumed drugs and alcohol. Their dependency on these substances has made their transition into the prison environment significantly more difficult. The absence of access to such substances has likely intensified their withdrawal symptoms, exacerbating their physical and psychological struggles. Notably, since their incarceration, no family members or friends have come to visit them, adding to their sense of isolation.
The Heinous Crime and Its Aftermath
The case itself is deeply disturbing. On March 4, Muskan and Sahil allegedly drugged and brutally murdered Saurabh Rajput. After stabbing him to death, they dismembered his body and sealed it inside a drum filled with cement. In an attempt to mislead Rajput’s family, they continued to send messages from his phone while taking a vacation to Himachal Pradesh. However, their deception was eventually uncovered, leading to their arrest on March 18.
Muskan and Saurabh’s relationship had a tumultuous history. The couple got married in 2016 despite opposition from Rajput’s family. They also had a six-year-old daughter. Meanwhile, Muskan and Sahil’s connection dates back to their school days, though they re-established contact in 2019 through a WhatsApp group. Their rekindled bond eventually led to an extramarital affair, which culminated in the alleged crime.
The Road Ahead
As the legal proceedings continue, Muskan and Sahil’s struggles in prison highlight the broader issue of substance abuse among offenders. Their experience underscores the profound impact of drug dependency and its role in criminal behaviour. While they await their trial, their time in judicial custody serves as a reminder of the consequences of their alleged actions, both in terms of the crime committed and the personal suffering they now endure behind bars.
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