Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The sensational murder of Saurabh Rajput in Meerut, in which his body was dismembered and concealed in a blue drum filled with cement, brought two young IPS officers into the spotlight for their roles in the investigation. Ayush Vikram Singh, the then SP City, and Antariksh Jain, the then ASP, played key roles in examining the evidence and making crucial details of the case public.
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Police pieced together the case through the accused’s interrogation, evidence collected from the crime scene, post-mortem findings and details of their movements after the murder. The investigation eventually led to the conviction of Saurabh’s wife, Muskan Rastogi, and her alleged lover, Sahil Shukla.
On Wednesday, a court sentenced both convicts to death, marking a significant development in a case that first came to light in March 2025.
WHO IS AYUSH VIKRAM SINGH?
Ayush Vikram Singh is a 2020-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. Born on October 29, 1992, he hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. His father is A B Singh.
Singh holds a BTech degree in chemical engineering and an LLB degree. He cleared the civil services examination to join the Indian Police Service.
In December 2023, Singh took charge as Meerut’s SP City. He held the position when the Saurabh Rajput murder case came to light in March 2025.
During the investigation, Singh shared key details with the media, including information that emerged during the interrogation of the accused. His role placed him at the forefront of the police communication surrounding the case, as investigators worked to establish the sequence of events and examine the evidence.
In April 2026, the authorities transferred Singh to Bahraich as Additional Superintendent of Police (City). He is currently posted in Bahraich.
WHO IS ANTARIKSH JAIN?
Antariksh Jain is a 2022-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. Born on September 3, 1998, he hails from SAS Nagar, also known as Mohali, in Punjab. His father is Shanti Kumar Jain.
Jain holds a BTech degree in mechanical engineering. He secured All India Rank 130 in his first attempt at the Union Public Service Commission civil services examination.
During his posting in Meerut, Jain served as an ASP and also handled police responsibilities associated with the Kotwali area.
Jain played an important role in communicating key forensic findings in the Saurabh Rajput murder case. He shared details from the post-mortem report, stating that the body bore knife injury marks and signs indicating that the neck and wrists had been severed.
These findings formed part of the information the police made public as the investigation progressed.
In April 2026, the authorities transferred Jain to Bulandshahr as Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural). He is currently posted in Bulandshahr.
BLUE DRUM MURDER CASE?
Saurabh Rajput, a resident of Meerut’s Brahmpuri area, was murdered in March 2025. Police accused his wife, Muskan Rastogi, and her alleged lover, Sahil Shukla, of killing him, dismembering his body and concealing the remains in a blue drum filled with cement.
According to the police investigation, Saurabh worked abroad and returned to Meerut on February 24, 2025. Police said the accused murdered him on March 3. Muskan and Sahil subsequently travelled to Himachal Pradesh.
Investigators examined the movements of both accused and traced details of their journey as part of the effort to reconstruct the events surrounding the murder.
The case came to light on March 18, 2025, after which the police intensified the investigation. During questioning, investigators established the alleged roles of Muskan and Sahil. They collected evidence from the crime scene and included the suspected murder weapon and other material evidence in the investigation.
HOW DID POLICE PIECE TOGETHER THE MURDER?
The police initially identified the relationship between Muskan and Sahil as the primary motive behind the murder. Investigators said the crime did not appear to have happened spontaneously but had been carried out in a planned manner.
The investigation examined evidence linked to the purchase of a knife, the blue drum, cement and medicines. The police also gathered information about the accused’s activities in Himachal Pradesh after the murder.
Investigators examined the circumstances of the killing, the handling and concealment of the body, and the movements of the accused to establish the sequence of events.
The case also generated speculation about the possible involvement of occult practices. However, the police said their investigation had not uncovered any concrete evidence linking the murder to tantra or occult rituals.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
