Meerut Blue Drum Murder Case: Muskan Rastogi and Lover Sahil Shukla Sentenced to Death for Husband's Murder
A court in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of Muskan's husband, Saurabh Rajput, whose dismembered body was found inside a blue drum filled with liquid cement in March 2025. The court had convicted the two accused last month. According to the prosecution, Saurabh was allegedly drugged before being stabbed to death, after which his body was cut into pieces and concealed inside the drum. The verdict follows a trial in which the prosecution presented evidence establishing the accused's guilt.
Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla Get Death Sentence
In a major development in the Meerut blue drum murder case, a court in Meerut has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput, Muskan's husband.
The sentencing took place on Wednesday after the court found the two guilty last month. The case attracted widespread attention because of the alleged brutality of the crime and the discovery of Saurabh's dismembered body inside a blue drum filled with liquid cement at his home.
Advocate Krishan Kumar Dubey described the verdict as historic, stating that the prosecution's evidence was strong enough to establish the accused's guilt. He said the defence had raised arguments, including the absence of an eyewitness to the murder and the fact that both accused had daughters, but the court did not accept these arguments.
Saurabh Rajput's Family Seeks Justice
Following the court's earlier verdict on September 30, Saurabh's mother, Renu Rajput, questioned why her son had been killed.
She expressed her anguish over the loss and said she would have asked Muskan directly about the reason for the murder if she had been present in court.
The sentencing marks a significant development in the case, which has remained in the spotlight since the discovery of Saurabh's remains in March 2025.
Love Marriage Followed by a Tragic Crime
Saurabh Rajput, 29, and Muskan Rastogi married in 2016 after falling in love and reportedly eloping to persuade their families to accept their relationship. Their families eventually agreed to the marriage.
According to the police account cited in the report, Muskan later wanted to live separately from Saurabh's family. The couple moved into a rented house in the Brahmpuri area of Meerut, and their first daughter was born in 2019.
Saurabh had worked in the merchant navy before leaving the job in 2019. He subsequently moved to London, where he worked as a sales manager at a mall.
What Happened on the Night of the Murder?
According to the prosecution, Saurabh returned from London on February 24, 2025, to celebrate two family birthdays: Muskan's birthday on February 25 and their daughter's birthday on February 28.
The prosecution alleged that on the night of March 3, Muskan mixed intoxicating substances into Saurabh's food, causing him to lose consciousness.
She then allegedly called Sahil Shukla to the house. The two reportedly stabbed Saurabh to death and cut his body into several pieces before placing the remains inside a drum filled with liquid cement.
The remains were subsequently discovered, leading to an investigation that culminated in the conviction and death sentences of the two accused.
Muskan Gave Birth to a Daughter in Jail
Muskan gave birth to her second child, a daughter, in March 2025 at Chaudhary Charan Singh District Jail in Meerut.
During the sentencing proceedings, Advocate Krishan Kumar Dubey also referred to the question of the child's care, stating that the daughter could stay with her mother for six years.
The case has drawn attention to the legal proceedings, the evidence presented by the prosecution and the circumstances surrounding the murder. The death sentences mark the latest development in one of Meerut's most widely reported criminal cases.