Saurabh Murder Case: Muskan’s Father Forced to Sell Home as Financial Turmoil Deepens

In a poignant fallout from the Saurabh murder case, Pramod Kumar Rastogi, father of prime accused Muskan Rastogi, has put up "House for Sale" posters outside his family home in Indira Nagar, signalling the devastating financial and social repercussions of his daughter's alleged crime. The posters, which went viral on social media for the second time this week, have reignited public outrage and debate over the family's crumbling fortunes, with locals and online users decrying the perceived lack of accountability.

Muskan Rastogi, a 25-year-old woman, and her lover Sahil Shukla allegedly murdered her husband Saurabh Rajput on March 3, 2025, in a premeditated plot that shocked Meerut. The couple fled to Himachal Pradesh post-crime but returned on March 17, only for the case to unravel the next day, leading to their swift arrest. Rastogi, a jeweller whose business once thrived from a shop adjacent to the residence, now faces total collapse after the scandal drove away customers and dried up repayments on loans he had extended to locals.

The family's reputation has been irreparably tarnished, with Pramod Kumar lamenting to reporters that the backlash has left them "ruined". He briefly removed the posters earlier this week after they sparked backlash but reinstated them on Thursday amid mounting debts. Saurabh's brother, Rahul, alias Bablu Rajput, has vehemently opposed the sale, asserting that the house was partly funded by his late brother's earnings and contributions to its construction, rendering Pramod Kumar's unilateral decision invalid.

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City Superintendent of Police Ayush Vikram Singh clarified that neither Muskan's parents nor other family members are implicated in the murder probe, and property transactions fall outside police jurisdiction. However, the emotional toll extends to the jail, where Muskan—who recently gave birth to a baby girl—remains confined in a women's barrack with four other mothers. Sahil, lodged separately, sought permission to meet the newborn but was denied by authorities, citing their unmarried status and security protocols.

Senior Jail Superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma explained that interactions between the accused are limited to video conference court hearings, and Sahil has no legal rights to the child. The infant's future hangs in uncertainty, with the family navigating custody and welfare concerns amid the ongoing trial.

The case continues to grip Meerut, highlighting the ripple effects of personal scandals on familial and communal fabric, as the Rastogis grapple with loss of livelihood while the Rajputs demand justice for Saurabh. Court proceedings are expected to intensify next month, potentially shedding more light on the motives and fallout.

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