Meerut Blue Drum Murder Case: Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla Sentenced to Death
A Meerut district court on Wednesday sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput in the blue drum case. Concluding a 13-month trial involving 126 hearings and 22 witnesses, the court awarded capital punishment for killing Rajput and concealing his dismembered body inside a cement-filled drum.
The Meerut district court on Wednesday sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput in the Meerut blue drum case. Both the accused attended the court proceedings through video conferencing, while both their families were present inside the court.
On September 30, the court had convicted Muskan and Sahil of Saurabh’s murder, bringing the trial to a close after 13 months and 126 hearings. The court had subsequently given the two convicts 15 days to present their arguments on the quantum of sentence, during which the prosecution sought the maximum punishment, citing the nature of the crime and the evidence presented during the trial. Meerut Blue Drum Murder Case: Muskan, Boyfriend Sahil Convicted for Killing Husband Saurabh Rajput.
Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla Sentenced to Death
A Meerut court sentenced Muskan and her lover Sahil to death for murdering her husband and stuffing his dismembered body into a blue drum. District Judge Arvind Kumar pronounced the sentence after nearly one and a half years. Both appeared via video conferencing from jail and remained silent during the hearing. The court examined 22 witnesses, including sellers of the drum, knife and medicines.
— IANS (@ians_india) October 14, 2026
Trial Concluded After 126 Hearings and 22 Witnesses
Government counsel Krishna Kumar Chaubey had said after the conviction that the court referred to a Supreme Court order while stressing the need for appropriate punishment in serious criminal cases. “The court has held Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla guilty of the murder of Saurabh Rajput," Chaubey had told reporters, adding that the court observed that perpetrators of heinous crimes should receive appropriate punishment.
The prosecution examined 22 witnesses during the trial. These included people connected with the purchase of the blue drum, cement, a knife and utensils allegedly used in the crime. Hotel managers and records were also examined to establish the accused persons’ stays at different locations, while cab drivers were questioned about their movements, Chaubey had said.
The Meerut Blue Drum Case Background
The case relates to the murder of Saurabh Rajput, a merchant navy officer, in Meerut on March 4, 2025.
According to the prosecution, Rajput was murdered by his wife, Muskan Rastogi, and her lover, Sahil Shukla. The prosecution alleged that the two dismembered his body and concealed the remains inside a blue drum filled with cement.
The crime came to light after the remains were discovered at the couple’s house in Meerut’s Brahmpuri locality. Muskan and Sahil were subsequently arrested. The case attracted widespread attention because of the alleged manner in which the body was disposed of, with the blue drum becoming a defining feature of the investigation.
Family's Demand for Capital Punishment and Prison Disturbance
Following the September 30 conviction, Rajput’s mother, Renu Devi, and brother, Rahul, expressed their emotions and demanded the death penalty for the convicts. The family said it had faith in the judiciary but wanted the maximum punishment for the two.
After the conviction, jail officials also told PTI that Muskan and Sahil had become distressed and eaten sparingly, prompting counselling sessions. Senior Jail Superintendent Dr Viresh Raj Sharma said Muskan had expressed concern about the future of her infant daughter, who was staying with her in jail.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 14, 2026 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
