Saurabh Rajput's murder was plotted by his wife and her partner: Unravelling misinformation around a heinous crime

Muhammad Nomaan Khan

NewsBits.in

NEW DELHI/MEERUT: It was a planned and brutal murder in Meerut that stunned the people, not just in Uttar Pradesh, but across the country. The case, involving Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla, has not only exposed a horrifying crime but has also triggered a wave of misinformation.

Saurabh Rajput who was in England, had come to India, and was aware of his wife Muskan's alleged illicit relationship with Sahil Shukla. Yet, for his six-year-old daughter's sake, he wanted to keep his family intact.

From England, he used to send money to wife and though Muskan spent time with Saurabh and they had liquor on regular basis. When Saurabh came to India, he wanted to take his wife and daughter along, to England, to save his family. But Muskan refused as she was not willing to leave her lifestyle, here, and the relationship too.

She allegedly planned and conspired to 'eliminate' her own husband and her lover played a main role in this case. They brutally murdered Saurabh but were finally arrested. While the investigation unfolds, it's crucial to separate facts from rumors and ensure justice remains the primary focus.

A Murder Planned in Cold Blood

On the night of March 4, 2025, Muskan allegedly drugged her husband, Saurabh Rajput, to render him unconscious. Once he was incapacitated, Sahil Shukla joined her, and together, they stabbed Saurabh multiple times, delivering a fatal wound to his heart.

Then, in an attempt to conceal the crime, they severed his head, stuffed his body into a plastic drum, and filled it with cement before storing it inside their home. Their gruesome plan, however, began to fall apart when Saurabh’s family grew suspicious of his sudden disappearance [India Today].

A Web of Lies and Deception

To cover up the murder, Muskan used Saurabh’s phone and sent text messages to his family, in order to send a message that he was still alive. A message was also sent to his sister on Holi, hoping to delay suspicion. But when his family noticed that their calls were ignored, they sensed something was terribly wrong (India Today).

Meanwhile, after teh murder, Muskan and Sahil fled to Himachal Pradesh, where they checked into a hotel in Kasol on March 10, posing as a married couple. Hotel staff later described their odd behavior, which added to the suspicion, once the truth came out (Navbharat Times).

False Claims About Sahil’s Identity

As the investigation progressed, misinformation began circulating online, particularly about Sahil’s name and religious identity. Many claimed were made simply because of his first name. Sahil is a comoon and universal name used in Hindu, Muslim and other communities.

The, official records and credible reports confirm his full name as Sahil Shukla, clearly indicating his religius background (Live Hindustan. Jumping to conclusions based on names alone is reckless and can fuel unnecessary communal tensions.

A Lesson in Responsible Journalism

This case is a grim reminder of how misinformation can distort reality. Hence, fact-check is also important. Spreading false narratives about someone’s religion or background does nothing to serve justice—it only distracts from the real issue:

The fact remains that an innocent man was brutally murdered, and the focus should remain on ensuring the guilty are
punished. As responsible citizens, we must prioritize facts over rumors, support fact-based journalism,and ensure that justice prevails. Right now, Sahil Shukla and Musktan Rastogi have been arrested. 

There is a pile of evidence against them, said police. The families of the accused, Muskan, have also sought the harshest punishment for her, as they felt that their son-in-law was killed though he was a good husband and despite the fact that he was aware of Muskan's relationship with another man, he tolerated and tried to keep his family together. Yet, he was killed.