Latest news with #SaurabhRajput
News18
6 days ago
- News18
Meerut Murder: Muskan Rastogi, Wife Of Ex-Merchant Navy Officer, Seeks To Study Law From Jail
Last Updated: Meerut Murder: A jail official said that Muskan Rastogi expressed dissatisfaction with her current legal representation. Muskan Rastogi, 28, who stands accused of murdering her husband, former merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, sought permission from Meerut jail authorities in Uttar Pradesh to pursue legal studies so she can represent herself in court, The Times of India reported. A jail official told the publication that Muskan Rastogi expressed dissatisfaction with her current legal representation and stated her intention to argue her own case. Muskan Rastogi and her partner, Sahil Shukla, allegedly murdered her husband, Saurabh Rajput, 35. His dismembered and cement-sealed body was discovered inside a blue plastic drum at their residence in Meerut on March 18. The couple was arrested after returning from a trip to Himachal Pradesh and sent to Chaudhary Charan Singh District Jail following the denial of their bail applications. According to officials, Muskan Rastogi has not studied beyond Class 8 and lacks a senior secondary certificate- a mandatory qualification to pursue legal studies in India. Authorities are now exploring options for her to resume her education. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers educational programs within the prison system, and officials said- as per the report- that Muskan Rastogi would first need to complete her senior secondary education before enrolling in an LLB course. Jail Superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma told the outlet, 'Since Muskan was lodged in jail, no one from her family has visited her, while Sahil's maternal grandmother and brother met him. Now, Muskan has expressed interest in pursuing legal education, and we are considering the process. If she wants to study, jail authorities will provide all necessary resources." Earlier this month, Meerut Police filed a nearly 1,000-page chargesheet against Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla in connection with the murder. Submitted 69 days after the discovery of Rajput's remains, the chargesheet included statements from 34 witnesses, including family members, hotel staff, and police officials. Muskan Rastogi's parents, Kavita and Pramod Rastogi, testified against her and their statements have been included in the chargesheet. Additionally, Muskan Rastogi was found to be pregnant during a routine medical check-up in jail. Saurabh Rajput returned to Meerut on February 24. On March 3, just days after his arrival, he was allegedly stabbed to death by Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla. His body was dismembered in the bathroom and concealed in a blue drum filled with cement and dust to mask the odor. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" First Published: May 31, 2025, 11:45 IST
News18
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
'Drum Mein Raja', 'Sasu Jamai Ku Leke Bhagi': Viral Songs On Murders, Odd News Trigger Outrage
The Saurabh Rajput murder case in Meerut inspired distasteful memes and a viral Bhojpuri song. Another song about an Aligarh elopement also went viral, sparking controversy The sensational Saurabh Rajput murder case in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, continues to dominate headlines. While the incident has drawn public sympathy, it has also become the subject of distasteful memes, particularly referencing the now-infamous blue drum in which the victim's body was found. Adding to the controversy, a Bhojpuri song based on the case, titled Drum Mein Raja, has gone viral, provoking widespread outrage. Following this trend, a new Rajasthani track titled Sasu Jamai Ku Leke Bhagi, inspired by the real-life case of a mother-in-law eloping with her future son-in-law in Aligarh, UP, has recently surfaced online. The video has spread rapidly across social media, stirring both curiosity and criticism. The song is reminiscent of the earlier release Drum Mein Raja, which was slammed by the public and celebrities alike. Television personality Manisha Rani publicly denounced the insensitivity of turning a brutal murder into entertainment content, reminding audiences of the trauma faced by the victim's family. Viral But Divisive Despite the backlash, Sasu Jamai Ku Leke Bhagi has garnered over 1.5 lakh views on YouTube and received more than 2,000 likes. Released under the Foji Studio Hindaun City label, the song is sung by Lokesh Kumar and Kapil Kumar and hosted on the Lokesh Kumar Brand channel, which boasts 3.76 lakh subscribers. Public response has been sharply divided. While some viewers found the song entertaining, others labelled it tasteless and damaging to the dignity of both the Bhojpuri language and the individuals involved in the real-life story. One user even suggested that such content could hurt the singers' careers if the trend continues. The song draws from a true incident in Aligarh, where a groom named Rahul absconded with his would-be mother-in-law just ten days before his wedding. The bride-to-be, Sapna (also known as Apna), was left shocked by the turn of events. The story quickly became a media sensation, prompting the creation of the now-viral song. A Pattern Of Exploiting Virality This isn't the first time the YouTube channel has cashed in on trending headlines. Earlier releases included songs based on real-life cases of eloping in-laws and involving a viral figure named Monalisa from the Maha Kumbh. While these songs often gain views, they are increasingly seen as exploiting personal tragedies for digital engagement. As debate over online ethics grows, such content raises pressing questions about sensitivity, cultural responsibility, and the blurry line between real-life events and entertainment.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Time of India
From Shraddha Walkar to Saurabh Rajput: Why Indian couples are killing each other
Imagine returning home after a long day - expecting peace, only to be met by horror. In a Delhi flat, police uncovered the dismembered, remains of Shraddha Walkar , stuffed into a fridge by her live-in partner. In Meerut, Saurabh Rajput 's body was exhumed from a cement-filled drum - another grotesque betrayal within four walls once called 'home.' These are not fictional crime thrillers, but terrifying truths - mirroring a dark pattern: Indian homes becoming crime scenes, and intimate partners turning executioners. Recent months have seen both husbands and wives become perpetrators and victims in a string of brutal killings from a YouTube influencer's wife and her accomplice murdering her spouse in Haryana to a live-in partner's deadly rage in Delhi's Munirka . Experts trace this rise to a volatile mix of financial and dowry disputes, infidelity, substance-fuelled aggression and untreated mental-health issues. Yet for many trapped in violent or untenable marriages, the promise of legal relief, mandatory cooling-off periods, burdensome proof in contested divorces and years-long court backlogs only adds fresh torment. Behind closed doors: What drives partners to kill? Psychologists reveal a toxic mix of emotional detachment and untreated mental-health issues can conspire to transform everyday conflicts into fatal violence. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo Dipali Batra, a senior consultant clinical psychologist at Max Superspeciality hospital notes that the hallmark of a premeditated killing such as Aaftab Poonawalla's week-long planning of Shraddha Walkar's murder is often rooted in antisocial personality traits. 'Individuals with this disorder lack empathy, guilt and any regard for moral values,' she explains. Their inner dialogue becomes a rigid justification: 'I am doing this because this person did this to me,' they tell themselves. Detached emotionally from their victim, they rationalise violence as a deserved punishment, believing that societal norms simply do not apply to them. This extreme detachment and dissociation allow perpetrators to dehumanise their partners, viewing them as objects rather than fellow human beings. Batra says that such violence is rarely the product of a single factor; rather, it emerges at the nexus of biological predispositions, unresolved childhood trauma and poor emotion-regulation skills. 'When pent-up aggression and past resentments remain unaddressed,' she says, 'individuals can suppress any spark of compassion, making it frighteningly easy to plan and carry out an act of homicide.' By contrast, homicides born of a 'heat-of-the-moment' conflict typically involve no planning, but instead reflect an inability to control intense emotions. In both profiles, however, warning signs of frequent conflicts, manipulative behaviour, emotional suppression and a rigid, entitled mindset can often be detected beforehand. Batra warns that once a perpetrator convinces themselves that 'my needs and grievances are more important than anyone else's,' moral boundaries collapse entirely, and violence becomes the logical, if tragic, solution to imagined wrongs. Monika Sharma, a senior psychologist, says that patriarchy is often at the root of this violence : 'Patriarchal systems cast women as men's property. When educated, independent women assert their rights, some men feel their authority threatened. Domestic violence becomes a tool to reassert control, and in rare but horrific cases, that control turns to homicide.' Batra traces these tendencies back to childhood modelling: 'Sons who witness unchallenged aggression learn it is a legitimate means of asserting power.' Financial dependence deepens the power imbalance. She recalls an NRI client who could not spend even ten rupees without her husband's permission, fuelling daily resentments. Dowry demands only add to the tinder: 'When demands go unmet, ridicule and abuse follow sometimes culminating in lethal violence.' Dr Nisha Khanna, who has been working as a psychologist for over 22 years, casts this dynamic in terms of a 'power-control wheel'. 'Any assertion of female autonomy can provoke explosive rage, especially in those with narcissistic or antisocial traits. Violence becomes the only way to punish perceived insubordination and reclaim ego.' Infidelity is another potent spark. 'Betrayal shatters trust and dignity,' Sharma warns. 'Without counselling or open communication, suppressed grief and humiliation can build until they erupt into violence.' Batra adds: 'Social stigma prevents victims from speaking out or seeking help, so resentments accumulate unchecked.' Substance abuse fuels volatility. 'Alcohol and drugs impair judgment and magnify impulsivity,' says Batra. 'A minor disagreement can become a fatal confrontation under intoxication.' Studies have long linked psychoactive substances to spikes in domestic violence and homicide. Untreated mental-health issues compound the risk. 'Many perpetrators exhibit borderline personality traits, emotional instability, fear of abandonment and impulsivity or antisocial traits, characterised by lack of empathy and remorse,' Batra notes. 'Stigma and cost deter them from therapy, so unhealthy coping mechanisms fester.' Justice feels distant in family courts While laws around divorce and domestic violence are designed to offer protection and resolution, they often end up entangling individuals in slow, emotionally draining processes. From mandatory waiting periods to the burden of proof in contested divorces or criminal cases, the system can feel less like a path to justice and more like another layer of struggle. 'Mutual-consent divorce can feel like a cruel irony,' Aditi Mahoni observes. Mahoni, a Mumbai-based lawyer who has been handling divorce cases since 2012, points out that even couples seeking an amicable, mutual-consent divorce can feel trapped by the very laws meant to guide them. Under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, spouses must be married for at least one year and live separately for another year before filing, then endure a further six-month 'cooling-off' period. This framework was built on the belief that marriage is sacrosanct offering a final chance to reconcile rather than rush into irreversible decisions. Yet, for many, these mandatory waits become an ordeal: by the time their petitions succeed, they have already moved on emotionally and materially. The Supreme Court's Amardeep Singh ruling has recognised these hardships, allowing courts to waive the cooling-off period when separation is complete, reconciliation efforts have failed, all disputes are settled and prolonged pendency threatens the parties' mental health. In practice, however, few couples meet all four criteria or can persuade busy judges to grant the exception, leaving them bound to laws that feel more punitive than protective. She contrasts this with contested divorce, which can drag on for four years or more. 'Grounds such as cruelty or adultery require burdensome proof hotel bills, medical reports or witness testimony. Meanwhile, interim maintenance applications for homemakers may take two years, leaving them financially stranded.' Turning to spousal violence, Mahoni highlights evidentiary hurdles. 'When you file under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) or 498A, you must back your allegations with FIRs, medical records and witness statements. These offences occur behind closed doors, so many cases falter for lack of proof.' Prolonged investigations and court backlogs over 51 million cases pending nationwide compound victims' trauma. 'By Year 3, many just want to move on and withdraw charges,' she says. Advocate Riddhi Thakkar broadens the focus: 'Spousal homicide disproportionately affects women in a patriarchal society where dowry deaths remain endemic. Yet recent years have seen a disturbing rise in male victims driven by infidelity, fraudulent marriages and misuse of laws to extort husbands and their families.' Thakkar who has over 14 years of experience in dealing with divorce cases at the Mumbai Family court, Bombay high court laments the crushing judicial backlog that leaves both men and women waiting decades for resolution. She proposes appointing court commissioners for fast-track trials, strengthening investigative protocols and launching awareness campaigns so victims recognise their rights and seek help promptly. Most crucially, she calls for gender-neutral legislation in dowry and domestic-violence matters, ensuring men and women enjoy equal access to protection orders. What now? From the Delhi fridge murder to the Meerut drum killing and the Mathura field burial, intimate-partner homicides in India expose a lethal intersection of entrenched patriarchy, economic stress, betrayal, substance-fuelled impulsivity and untreated mental-health issues, all magnified by legal and institutional shortcomings. Therapists urge cultural transformation, accessible counselling and early-warning education; advocates demand expeditious, gender-neutral legal protections and judicial reform. The silent epidemic of domestic homicides won't be solved in courtrooms alone. India needs urgent systemic change, faster legal recourse, gender-neutral laws, robust counseling access, and cultural transformation that breaks the cycle of learned aggression. The first step? Stop treating violence behind closed doors as 'private matters.' These are public emergencies. And silence is no longer an option.
