By The Sampadak Express
A chilling murder plot has emerged in the case of 29-year-old Saurabh Rajput, a former merchant navy officer from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. His wife, Muskaan Rastogi, allegedly plotted his murder with her lover, 25-year-old Sahil Shukla, after an affair that began in 2019. The plot was meticulously planned, with Muskaan procuring knives and sedatives as early as November to execute her plan.
Saurabh had returned from London on February 24 to celebrate his wife and daughter’s birthdays. Just over a week later, he fell victim to a gruesome conspiracy. His body was dismembered and sealed in a drum filled with cement.
The Plot Unfolds
Muskaan and Sahil’s affair escalated when she decided to leave Saurabh and marry him instead. Police investigations suggest that Muskaan and Sahil saw Saurabh as an obstacle, and thus, they decided to murder him. According to reports, Muskaan convinced Sahil that his deceased mother was communicating with him through Snapchat, pushing him to help her carry out the crime.
In February, as Saurabh prepared to return to India, the couple began to put their deadly plan into action. Muskaan bought long-bladed knives, telling a shopkeeper they were for cutting chicken, and also secured banned sedatives from a local drugstore.
Failed Attempt and the Final Murder
The first attempt at murder on February 25 failed when Saurabh, after eating food laced with sedatives, merely fell into a deep sleep but did not lose consciousness. However, on March 4, Muskaan successfully drugged Saurabh’s food, rendering him unconscious. She then joined Sahil in stabbing him to death.
After killing Saurabh, they dismembered his body in an attempt to hide their crime. They had already sent Muskaan’s six-year-old daughter to her grandmother’s house before executing the murder.
Initially, the duo planned to dispose of the body parts in a remote location, but they ultimately decided to seal the remains in a blue drum, filling it with cement and sand to hide the evidence.
Attempting to Cover Their Tracks
After the murder, Muskaan and Sahil fled to Himachal Pradesh, hoping to cover their tracks, before returning to Meerut on March 17. The next day, following a complaint from Saurabh’s family, the police detained the couple on suspicion. They were arrested after the blue drum containing Saurabh’s dismembered body was discovered at their home.
Both Muskaan and Sahil have been sent to 14-day judicial custody. The court hearing on Wednesday saw a chaotic scene, with a group of lawyers attempting to strike the couple and grab Sahil’s clothes. Police officers struggled to maintain order and ensure the safety of the accused.
Family’s Shock and Demands for JusticeMuskaan’s parents, Kavita and Pramod Rastogi, expressed shock and disbelief over their daughter’s involvement in the murder. They acknowledged that Muskaan and Saurabh’s relationship had been troubled but placed the blame on Sahil, claiming he had introduced Muskaan to drugs, including marijuana.
Muskaan’s father, in particular, condemned her actions, calling for the death penalty for both Muskaan and her lover. “Saurabh gave up everything for Muskaan, including his job and family, only to lose his life at her hands. Muskaan has lost the right to live.
