Meerut Murder: Girl Knew ‘Papa Is in the Drum’ After Father Was Chopped

Photo: PTI

Meerut police are planning to bring in a child counselor to talk to the six-year-old daughter of Saurabh Rajput, a former Merchant Navy officer who was brutally murdered. The child, who is deeply traumatized, reportedly told some people, "Papa is in the drum." The police believe she may have overheard something or seen part of the crime, which could help them understand more about the case.

Superintendent of Police, Meerut City, Ayush Vikram Singh, said that investigators are still working to find out the exact reason behind the murder. The police suspect that the young girl might have some clues about what happened on the night of March 4, when Saurabh Rajput was killed by his wife, Muskaan Rastogi, and her lover, Sahil Shukla.

According to the child's grandmother, she mentioned multiple times that her father was inside a drum. The authorities believe a trained child counselor will be able to communicate with her better than the police, making it easier for her to express her feelings and recall any important details about the incident.

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The gruesome murder came to light when Saurabh's dismembered body was found inside a plastic drum filled with cement, over a week after he had returned from abroad to celebrate his daughter's birthday. His wife Muskaan and her boyfriend Sahil were arrested after they confessed to the crime. They are now facing charges of murder, conspiracy, and tampering with evidence.

Police revealed that on the night of March 4, Muskaan mixed sleeping pills into Saurabh’s food. Once he was unconscious, she and Sahil stabbed him and then chopped his body into 15 pieces. SP Singh said that Muskaan held the knife while Sahil restrained Saurabh. After the murder, Sahil instructed Muskaan to bring a drum, sand, and cement. They used a knife, originally bought for chopping chicken, to kill Saurabh before stuffing his remains into the drum and sealing it with cement.

Shockingly, after committing the crime, Muskaan and Sahil went on a vacation to Shimla and Kasol to create an alibi. They continued messaging Saurabh’s family from his phone to avoid suspicion. Police also discovered that the couple had previously attempted to kill Saurabh on February 25, but the plan failed.

Officers had to use a drill machine to break through the hardened cement and retrieve Saurabh’s remains from the drum.

Saurabh and Muskaan had been married since 2016 and had a daughter in 2019. Saurabh left his Merchant Navy job to spend more time with his family, but this caused tension with his relatives. In 2023, he moved to London to work at a bakery, but financial struggles continued. Muskaan’s family regularly gave her money, and Saurabh’s drinking habits worsened the strain in their marriage.

When Saurabh returned to India on February 24 to celebrate his daughter's birthday, conflicts resurfaced between him and Muskaan. Just a day later, on February 25, Muskaan and Sahil made their first failed attempt to kill him.

Police are now ensuring that the young girl receives emotional support while continuing their investigation into the case.