Sun Mar 23 09:37:00 UTC 2025: ## Meerut Couple Accused of Brutal Murder Denied Jailhouse Proximity
**Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, March 23, 2025** – Muskaan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, arrested for the gruesome murder of Rastogi’s husband, Saurabh Rajput, have been denied their request to be housed together in Meerut’s Chaudhary Charan Singh district jail. While the couple, currently in judicial custody, expressed a desire to be in the same or nearby barracks, jail authorities cited regulations prohibiting contact between male and female inmates. They are now housed in adjacent cells.
Rajput, a former Merchant Navy officer working in London, was allegedly murdered on March 4th. Police say Rastogi drugged and stabbed Rajput before dismembering his body and concealing the remains in a cement-filled drum. She and Shukla then fled to Himachal Pradesh, using Rajput’s phone to maintain a false appearance of his well-being. Rastogi later confessed the crime to her parents.
The couple, both reportedly drug addicts undergoing withdrawal treatment in the prison, have been largely isolated. They refuse communication with other inmates, and no visitors have been reported. Rastogi, who initially refused food, is now eating regularly and has requested a government-appointed lawyer as her family will not provide legal representation. Meerut police intend to seek further custody for detailed questioning.
The murder has sparked outrage. Rajput’s family alleges Rastogi married him for financial gain and had a strained relationship with them from the outset. Rastogi’s parents, while acknowledging their daughter’s involvement, claim the murder stemmed from fears that Rajput would interfere with their drug use. The couple’s six-year-old daughter is now an orphan, adding another layer of tragedy to this horrific case.
First Piper 