The Murder That Shook Meerut : Betrayal and Bloodshed

In Meerut, a former Merchant Navy officer was brutally murdered by his wife and her lover, leaving a trail of gruesome evidence and strange post-crime actions that have left the nation in shock.

Saurabh Rajput, a 29‐year-old former Merchant Navy officer, returned to India in February 2025 after spending time in London, hoping to celebrate his daughter’s birthday and reconnect with his family. However, beneath the surface of what appeared to be an ordinary homecoming, a carefully planned and brutal crime was unfolding. In a case that has left many shocked, every detail of the incident reveals a disturbing series of actions that led to one of the most gruesome murders in recent memory.

The troubled relationship between Saurabh and his wife Muskan Rastogi had been deteriorating for years. Their marriage, which began in 2016, had weathered many storms, including financial difficulties and emotional strain. The situation worsened when Saurabh discovered that Muskan had been involved in an extramarital affair with Sahil Shukla, a man who had been a childhood acquaintance of hers. Despite knowing about the affair, Saurabh chose to remain in the marriage for the sake of their young daughter, hoping that things might eventually improve. However, the underlying resentments and betrayals were festering beneath a veneer of normality.

On March 4, 2025, the tension between Saurabh and Muskan reached a fatal climax. According to detailed police accounts and witness statements, Muskan, along with her lover Sahil, decided to eliminate Saurabh once and for all. The plan was set in motion when the couple prepared a meal for him. They secretly mixed sedatives into his food, ensuring that he would be rendered unconscious and completely vulnerable to what was about to happen. With Saurabh incapacitated, Muskan and Sahil moved swiftly, committing an act of violence that would shock anyone who learned of it.

The method of the murder was both brutal and calculated. Once Saurabh was under the effects of the sedatives, the couple allegedly stabbed him repeatedly. The assault did not stop with the initial attack; after he was fatally wounded, they went on to dismember his body. Reports indicate that his body was cut into approximately fifteen pieces—a detail that has left forensic experts and investigators grappling with the sheer cruelty of the act. In a further attempt to hide the evidence, the dismembered remains were sealed inside a plastic drum. But this was no ordinary drum; it was filled with cement, an act that served both to obscure the identity of the remains and to delay the decomposition process, making the discovery of the crime scene all the more horrifying.

The crime took place in a rented apartment in the Indira Nagar area of Meerut—a location that was once an unremarkable residence but soon became the center of an intense police investigation. Neighbors were puzzled by the lingering foul odor that seemed to be coming from the apartment, a smell that would later be linked to the decaying body of Saurabh. Despite the presence of a corpse inside their home, Muskan and Sahil carried on with their lives as if nothing had happened. When his family reported him missing, the police began to suspect that something was amiss. Their suspicions were confirmed when a thorough search of the apartment led them to the cement-filled drum containing the dismembered remains. The discovery of such a macabre method of concealing a body sent shockwaves through the community, leaving little doubt that this was no ordinary case of a missing person.

In a shocking display of detachment, the couple decided to leave town shortly after the murder. Instead of showing any signs of guilt or distress, they packed their bags and traveled to Manali to celebrate Holi. Their trip was marked by extravagant indulgences, including parties and socializing, all while Saurabh’s remains lay concealed in their rented apartment. This attempt to create an alibi and act as though life was normal highlights the cold and calculated nature of their crime.

Perhaps even more disturbing was their reported involvement in black magic rituals in the aftermath of the murder. Some sources suggest that Muskan and Sahil sought the help of occult practices to evade capture, believing that supernatural forces could protect them from law enforcement. Whether these rituals were purely psychological attempts to cope with their crime or an actual belief in dark arts, it demonstrated their desperation and irrationality as suspicion around them grew.

Back in Meerut, Saurabh’s family grew increasingly anxious about his whereabouts. They repeatedly tried to contact him, but their calls and messages went unanswered. Their concern turned into alarm when they approached the police, prompting an investigation that led officers to his last known location—the apartment where Muskan and Sahil had lived.

When the police searched the premises, they were met with a horrifying discovery. The cement-filled drum, which had been meant to permanently hide Saurabh’s remains, had begun to leak fluids, giving off an unbearable stench. Investigators quickly realized that they were dealing with not just a murder but a meticulously planned attempt to erase a person’s existence.

Once the remains were found, law enforcement wasted no time in tracking down Muskan and Sahil. Their movements were traced, and their extravagant Holi celebration only added to the evidence against them. Surveillance footage and financial transactions placed them at the scene of the crime before their sudden getaway, further implicating them in Saurabh’s disappearance. Upon their return, they were arrested, and during questioning, both eventually confessed to the crime. The gruesome details that emerged painted a picture of a premeditated and merciless act fueled by betrayal and personal gain.

During their court appearance, emotions ran high. A group of enraged lawyers physically attacked Sahil and Muskan, tearing their clothes and attempting to assault them as they were being escorted into the courtroom. This reaction, though extreme, reflected the widespread outrage the case had triggered. Even Muskan’s own family publicly disowned her, severing all ties and refusing to provide legal support, as they could not come to terms with the horrifying act she had committed.

The case of Saurabh Rajput serves as a grim reminder of the darkest aspects of human nature. It is a chilling example of how personal relationships, when poisoned by betrayal and deceit, can spiral into violence of the most unimaginable kind. While justice is being served through legal means, the emotional and psychological scars left on the victim’s family and society at large remain.

Beyond the shocking details, this crime highlights the importance of recognizing red flags in toxic relationships and understanding how unchecked emotions, greed, and resentment can drive people to commit unthinkable acts. The swift action by law enforcement and the overwhelming evidence ensured that those responsible were held accountable, but no legal punishment can undo the horror that unfolded within the walls of that rented apartment in Meerut. This case will continue to be remembered as a harrowing tale of trust betrayed and humanity lost in the pursuit of selfish desires.