A ‘Concrete’ Crime That Shook Meerut
When news of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput’s brutal murder surfaced, it seemed like another tragic case of domestic discord spiraling into violence. But as investigators peeled back the layers, what emerged was a tale so horrifying that it defied comprehension—a story of betrayal, meticulous planning, and an execution so cold-blooded that it felt straight out of a crime thriller.
At the heart of this chilling saga stood Muskan Rastogi, a woman who turned from a dissatisfied wife into a ruthless mastermind, and Sahil Shukla, her lover and accomplice, whose devotion led him down a path of unspeakable violence. Together, they hatched a plan to eliminate Saurabh—permanently.
The Murder Plot: A Calculated Descent into Evil
This was no crime of passion; it was premeditated to the last detail.
In November 2024, Muskan and Sahil began scouting remote locations where they could dispose of a body. By February 2025, they had fine-tuned their plan, acquiring sedatives, razor-sharp knives, and polythene bags. Every purchase—whether the ₹800 meat-cutting knives or the prescription drugs Muskan forged—was a calculated step toward murder.
On March 3, the opportunity arrived. Saurabh, unaware of the lurking danger, returned home with a dish of lauki ke kofte prepared by his mother. Muskan laced his food with sedatives, waiting for him to slip into unconsciousness. Then, she summoned Sahil.
What followed was a brutal execution. As Saurabh lay defenseless, the couple stabbed him repeatedly. The sheer savagery of the attack was disturbing, but what came next was even more chilling.
Dismemberment and Disposal: A Horror Unfolds
With an almost clinical detachment, the killers dismembered Saurabh’s body. Sahil severed the head and hands, while Muskan placed the torso inside a box under her bed—where she slept that night, mere inches from the remains of her husband. Sahil, on the other hand, took the severed body parts home, keeping them in his room for 24 hours.
When the original plan of scattering the remains became too risky, they devised an alternative. They purchased a large blue drum and cement, turning Saurabh’s body into an eerie, makeshift tomb. Police believe this idea may have been inspired by crime movies. But even the most chilling fiction couldn’t match the grotesque reality of this case.
Muskan Rastogi: The ‘Mastermind’ or a Manipulated Mind?
Muskan’s transformation is perhaps the most unsettling aspect of this crime. What drives a woman to kill the man she once loved?
Married to Saurabh since 2016, Muskan had grown increasingly resentful of her husband. Her family initially thought her weight loss and erratic behavior stemmed from missing him during his overseas assignments. The truth was far darker—Sahil had introduced her to drugs, including charas and smack, deepening their toxic bond.
Perhaps most disturbing is the psychological manipulation at play. Muskan allegedly used fake Snapchat IDs to convince Sahil that his dead mother’s spirit demanded Saurabh’s death as a “sacrifice.” Whether she truly believed this or merely exploited Sahil’s vulnerability is uncertain, but the result was the same—a crime driven by obsession and delusion.
Sahil Shukla: A Willing Executioner or a Broken Mind?
Sahil’s role in this gruesome act raises equally disturbing questions. His room, adorned with eerie paintings—one featuring an alien face with cryptic dots and the phrase “You cannot trip with us”—hinted at a mind immersed in paranoia and possibly substance-induced psychosis.
Was he a willing participant, fueled by his own twisted reality, or was he manipulated by Muskan into believing their crime was justified? Regardless, he carried out his role with disturbing precision, his hands committing an act from which there was no turning back.
A Crime That Nearly Went Unnoticed
For nearly two weeks, Muskan and Sahil lived their lives as if nothing had happened. They even took a trip to Himachal Pradesh, reveling in their newfound freedom.
But arrogance breeds mistakes. Their landlord, already suspicious of their behavior, demanded they vacate the premises. When laborers moved the heavy drum, a foul odor filled the air. Soon after, Muskan’s own mother—horrified by her daughter’s attempt to access Saurabh’s ₹6 lakh bank account—reported her.
It wasn’t long before the police unraveled the full horror of the crime. The cement-encased drum was so solid that it had to be transported intact to the mortuary, where hours of effort finally revealed Saurabh’s remains.
Justice Served? A Verdict Awaits
SSP Vipin Tada confirmed the obvious: Saurabh had become an obstacle Muskan and Sahil were willing to kill for. Now, they face the full weight of the law.
Yet, for Saurabh’s grieving family, no punishment can undo the horrors inflicted upon him. Even Muskan’s own parents, devastated by their daughter’s actions, demand the harshest punishment. “She was always wayward. Saurabh loved her blindly, but she didn’t deserve him,” her mother lamented.
But beyond the legal proceedings, this case leaves behind unsettling questions about human nature, obsession, and the terrifying lengths to which people will go when love turns to hate.
Saurabh Rajput was buried in concrete, but the chilling echoes of his murder will haunt Meerut—and beyond—for years to come.