'Black magic angle could be ...': What UP Police revealed about 'well-thought-out conspiracy' in Meerut murder case

Meerut murder

The Uttar Pradesh police have debunked the suspicion that there could be a black magic angle in the murder of a former Merchant Navy officer allegedly by his wife and her lover.

The Merchant Navy Officer, Saurabh Rajput's body was found chopped up into 15 pieces in a drum sealed with cement on March 4, raising suspicions of black magic.

However, Ayush Vikram Singh, the Superintendent of Police, Meerut City, informed that no such evidence had been found. It was a well-planned murder, and the black magic angle could be misdirection.

"This was a murder carried out after a well-thought-out conspiracy. To dispose of the body, they could have planned to get rid of the drum as well. They will be questioned what they were going to do with the drum," NDTV quoted Singh as saying.

Police during their probe found red and black tantric symbols, devil graffiti and cryptic English phrases at Sahil’s room. Beer cans, bidi stubs and other items were scattered around, adding to the eerie setting. It is believed that Sahil was highly superstitious.

Singh also asserted that both Muskan and her lover, Sahil tried to kill Saurabh on February 25 but could not succeed. "Since 2023, Saurabh worked at a bakery in London. He came back to India on February 24. The accused tried to kill him on February 25 but could not succeed. They finally executed their plan on March 3," the police officer said.

Muskan and Saurabh had a love marriage in 2016. However, Muskan had an extra-marital affair with Sahil. Her husband learnt about her affair back in 2021. Their landlord had informed Saurabh after spotting Muskan and Sahil in an "objectionable" situation.

"During her interrogation, Muskaan said that she was in an illicit relationship with Sahil since 2019. Saurabh was aware of this and had filed for divorce in 2021. But his family had convinced him to stay with his wife," the SP said.

Muskaan claimed that Sahil was a liquor addict, which often led to quarrels between them. Sahil was also in a financial crunch and her family used to bear his expenses, including rent, she told the police.