MEERUT: The fate of six-year-old Pihu, daughter of slain ex-merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, now hangs in the balance amid a brewing custody battle between the families of Saurabh Rajput (29) and his accused wife, Muskan Rastogi (26).
Completely unaware of the tragedy that has struck her family, little Pihu still believes her parents are away on vacation. Clueless about the horrifying reality, she continues to ask for her mother and father. To shield her from the trauma, Muskan’s parents — with whom the minor is currently living — have told her that both are on a trip to London and will return soon.
However, even as both families struggle to cope with the gruesome murder, a fresh tussle has emerged over Pihu’s custody. Muskan’s father, Pramod Rastogi, said, “We have nothing to do with Saurabh’s property or his bank balance. I’m even ready to give this in writing. But I will not let Pihu be taken away from us. She is like life to us.”
On the other hand, Saurabh’s elder brother, Rohit Rajput, is determined to seek legal custody of the child. “I don’t have a daughter. Pihu is Saurabh’s daughter, and I am her uncle. I can raise her like my own. If she stays with us, we will feel Saurabh’s presence through her. We will approach the court for her custody,” he said.
Notably, on March 4, Muskan, along with her lover Sahil, allegedly drugged Saurabh, murdered him in cold blood, chopped his body into pieces, and stuffed them in a drum before heading to the hills for a getaway.
