Meerut murder: The gruesome murder of Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput by his wife Muskan Rastogi with the help of her lover Sahil Shukla has rocked the nation. Muskan and Sahil first killed Saurabh and later chopped his body into 15 odd pieces. They then put the pieces into a drum and sealed it with cement. As the nation grapples with the horror of this brutal crime and both accused remain in 14-day judicial custody, a video of Saurabh dancing with his wife Muskan has gone viral on social media. 

In the now-viral video, Saurabh is seen matching dance steps with his wife Muskan, unaware of the dark fate that awaited him. Their six-year-old daughter is also seen happily dancing with them. The video is reportedly from their daughter’s birthday celebration on February 28 for which Saurabh had returned to India.

Muskan and Saurabh married in 2016  and Saurabh quit his Merchant Navy job to spend more time with her. However, this decision caused friction within his family, and the couple moved into a rented apartment. Three years later, they welcomed a daughter.

Their relationship took a downward turn when Saurabh discovered Muskan’s affair with Sahil, who is her school friend. The couple even discussed divorce, but Saurabh ultimately decided to give their marriage another shot. In 2023, he left India for work.

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On February 24, Saurabh returned home to celebrate their daughter’s sixth birthday on February 28. However, Muskan had other plans. She drugged him and, with Sahil’s help, murdered him. They then dismembered his body into 15 pieces, stuffed them into a drum, and sealed it with cement.

To avoid suspicion, Muskan kept in touch with Saurabh’s family through WhatsApp. She also went on a trip with Sahil and uploaded pictures from there on Saurabh’s social media account. 

The grisly murder came to light when the landlord asked Muskan to vacate the flat and labourers couldn’t lift the heavy drum that had Saurabh’s remains. While shifting the drum, its lid came loose, releasing a foul odour. The police were then alerted.  

Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla have confessed to the brutal murder and dismemberment of Saurabh Rajput. Following their confession, the court has remanded them to 14-day judicial custody at Chaudhary Charan Singh Jail in Meerut.

“Muskan and her lover, Sahil Shukla, were brought to the jail around 6 pm on Wednesday. Muskan was placed in the women’s barrack (barrack number 12), while Sahil was assigned to the men’s barrack (barrack number 18). Muskan remained silent and did not interact with anyone. She also did not eat the provided food,” Viresh Raj Sharma, senior jail superintendent, told PTI.