Lucknow: In a shocking crime that has sent shockwaves across Uttar Pradesh, 35-year-old Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput was brutally murdered by his wife, Muskan Rastogi, and her lover, Sahil Shukla alias Mohit. The gruesome act was uncovered after Rajput’s dismembered body was found hidden inside a plastic drum filled with cement in their home in Indranagar Second, Brahmapuri.
According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, police investigations revealed that Shukla was a habitual ganja smoker who also made Rastogi an addict. Her dependence on drugs allegedly trapped her in the extramarital affair, making her unwilling to leave him. The duo meticulously planned Rajput’s murder, ensuring he wouldn’t stand in their way.
On the night of the crime, Rastogi stabbed her sleeping husband in the chest. Once he succumbed to the attack, Shukla moved the body to the bathroom and proceeded to dismember it into 15 pieces, severing his hands and legs. The couple then stuffed the body parts into a plastic drum, sealed it with cement, and kept it in the house to hide the evidence.
To mislead family members and neighbors, Rastogi and Shukla went on a 12-day vacation to Shimla-Manali, posting pictures and videos on Instagram to create an illusion of normalcy. However, their plan fell apart when Rajput’s younger brother, Rahul, visited the house on March 18. He found Muskan with an unknown man (Shukla) and, upon questioning, received vague answers about his brother’s whereabouts. A foul smell from the house further raised suspicion, prompting Rahul to alert neighbors and call the police.
Upon interrogation, both Rastogi and Shukla confessed to the murder. Further investigation revealed that Rajput and Rastogi had been married since 2016 and had two daughters, born in 2017 and 2019. Despite opposition from their families, the couple lived in a rented apartment. Rajput had initially left his job to be with Rastogi but rejoined the Merchant Navy in 2023 after discovering her affair with Shukla.
On March 14, police recovered Rajput’s body parts from the cement-filled drum and launched an in-depth investigation. The shocking murder has sparked outrage, and authorities are ensuring that both accused face the strictest legal consequences.
