The post-mortem of former Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput has unveiled the horrifying brutality of his murder. Rajput’s body was found dismembered, allegedly by his wife, Muskan Rastogi, and her lover, Sahil Shukla.
The autopsy revealed that Rajput’s head was severed, both hands were cut off at the wrists, and his legs were bent backwards, suggesting an attempt to fit the body inside a drum. The cause of death was due to shock and excessive bleeding.
The murder reportedly took place on March 4. Rajput was allegedly drugged before being stabbed to death. The couple then dismembered his body and sealed it inside a drum filled with cement. Shockingly, the duo went on a vacation to Himachal Pradesh after the act, while misleading Rajput’s family by sending messages from his phone. The incident came to light on March 18, leading to their arrest.
Post-mortem confirms brutal crime
Doctors who conducted the autopsy reported that Rajput was stabbed in the heart three times with extreme force, indicating a sustained and violent attack. “The sharp knife pierced deep into the heart,” one of the doctors stated. Superintendent of Police (City) Ayush Vikram Singh confirmed the gruesome findings, describing the dismemberment into four parts to fit the body in the drum.
The medical team detailed the couple’s effort to conceal the body. The drum, filled with cement, prevented the body from rotting due to a lack of air, minimising the smell. The drum had to be cut open, and hardened cement painstakingly removed to retrieve the body.
Muskan and Rajput married in 2016 despite opposition from his family and had a six-year-old daughter. Muskan reconnected with Sahil Shukla through a WhatsApp group in 2019. Rajput’s family claimed Muskan neglected household duties and allegedly engaged in substance abuse.
Himachal trip
After the murder, the couple travelled to Kasol, Himachal Pradesh, checking into a hotel on March 10 and staying for six days. Hotel operator Aman Kumar noted their unusual behaviour; they stayed in their room most of the time and had minimal interaction with the staff. They left on March 16, claiming they were returning to Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the case.
(With PTI inputs)