Meerut blue drum murder: court sentences Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death

Merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput was killed on March 3, 2025 by his wife Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla. His body was discovered two weeks later, concealed with cement in a blue drum.

Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla received the death penalty for the murder of Saurabh Rajput. The court found them guilty after examining evidence and witness testimony over 126 hearings. Their gruesome crime involved drugging, stabbing, and dismembering Rajput's body. The remains were discovered in a blue drum filled with cement and sand. The trial lasted around 13 months before the final sentencing on Wednesday.

A Meerut court sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for murdering Saurabh Rajput, which occurred in March 2025. The court issued the verdict following a trial that included testimony from 22 prosecution witnesses. Meanwhile, the US announced the end of automatic work permit extensions for H-4 visa holders, impacting many Indian spouses.

A Meerut court has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla to death for murder. They were found guilty of murdering Muskan's husband, Saurabh Rajput, and hiding evidence. The trial included the testimony of 22 witnesses and numerous hearings over 18 months. Rajput’s mother expressed her gratitude for the verdict, hoping it deters future crimes. Both convicts were sentenced after their trial concluded on Wednesday.

Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla were sentenced to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput. Rajput's dismembered remains were found in a blue drum filled with cement in March 2025. The prosecution presented extensive evidence including forensic reports, call records, and witness testimonies during the trial. Following the verdict, Rajput’s mother expressed her gratitude for the justice served.

District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra sentenced Muskaan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of her husband, Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput.

Meerut: A Meerut court on Wednesday sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput, a case that shocked the country after his dismembered body was found concealed in a blue plastic drum filled with cement.Court pronounces death sentenceDistrict Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra pronounced the sentence after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence on the quantum of punishment. Both convicts appeared before the court through video conferencing from jail.#BREAKING A Meerut court sentenced Muskan and Sahil to death for the brutal blue drum murder, delivering justice in a chilling case that shook the community. #Meerut #Justice #CrimeNews @MeerutPolice @UPPolice https://t.co/A8WGZlWlVO— jarvis ☠️ (@Vishii14) October 14, 2026According to jail officials, Muskan folded her hands as the verdict was pronounced and later broke down. Sahil also became emotional. Muskan reportedly appealed for her two daughters to be looked after.Before the sentencing, the court gave both convicts an opportunity to make a statement. They told the judge that they had nothing to say.Prosecution seeks maximum punishmentThe prosecution sought the death penalty, citing the brutality of the crime and the manner in which the body was disposed of. The defence, represented by advocate Rekha Jain, sought leniency, highlighting Muskan's family circumstances and the future of her two daughters.Murder discovered in March 2025The case came to light in March 2025 after Saurabh's brother, Bablu, reported him missing on March 18 and expressed suspicion about Muskan and Sahil. Police subsequently searched the house and recovered Saurabh's body from the blue drum.According to the police investigation, Saurabh, who had returned from London after leaving his job, was allegedly drugged before being killed. Investigators alleged that Muskan and Sahil were involved in the murder and that the body was dismembered before being concealed in the drum with cement.Meerut Blue Drum Murder Case: Muskan Rastogi, Lover Sahil Shukla Sentenced To Death For Killing SaurabhForensic and electronic evidence examinedWith no eyewitness to the murder, investigators relied on circumstantial, forensic and electronic evidence. Call detail records, mobile phone locations, hotel records and CCTV footage were among the evidence examined during the investigation. Police also questioned a cab driver in connection with the movements of the accused after the murder.The police filed a chargesheet on May 12, 2025. On September 30, 2026, the court convicted Muskan and Sahil, paving the way for the sentencing hearing.Also Watch:Court considers sentencing argumentsThe prosecution argued that the nature of the crime and the efforts made to conceal the body warranted the harshest punishment. The defence urged the court to consider the impact of the sentence on Muskan's daughters.After hearing both sides, the court awarded the death penalty to both convicts on Wednesday.

On September 30, 2026, the Meerut district court held Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla guilty of the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput in the sensational ‘Blue Drum’ murder case

Muskaan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla were convicted after 126 hearings and 22 witness statements, with the court citing their conspiracy to murder Saurabh Rajput and conceal his body.

Meerut blue drum murder case: After 126 hearings and 22 witness statements, District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra ruled that Muskaan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla conspired to kill Saurabh Rajput and concealed his dismembered body inside a drum using concrete and sand.

Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla have been sentenced to death for the murder of Muskan's husband, Saurabh Rajput. The crime, known as the blue drum murder case, involved dismembering Rajput's remains. Following a complex trial, which included 126 hearings and 22 witnesses, both were found guilty. The prosecution labeled the crime as one of the rarest of rare cases requiring the death penalty.

A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut on Wednesday sentenced Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of her husband, Saurabh Rajput, whose dismembered body was found sealed inside a blue plastic drum filled with cement.Meerut, Uttar Pradesh: Accused Muskan and Sahil sentenced to death in the Saurabh Rajput murder case pic.twitter.com/aIcbYgYtqf— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2026 Saurabh Rajput’s lawyer, Vijay Bahadur, said both convicts had been sentenced to death, along with a fine of Rs 20,000 and an additional seven-year prison sentence. He said the punishment was sought based on the evidence presented before the court.Speaking to the media, Bahadur welcomed the verdict, saying it sent a strong message to society and would instil fear among criminals.The District and Sessions Court, presided over by Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra, had convicted the duo on September 30 after 126 hearings and testimonies from more than 22 witnesses. The sentencing proceedings were held amid tight security, with both accused, lodged in Meerut district jail, appearing through video conferencing.The murder took place on March 3, 2025. Saurabh, an officer in the Merchant Navy, had returned to Meerut from London on February 24.According to the prosecution, Muskan and Sahil first mixed sedatives into Saurabh’s food before attacking him while he was asleep. They allegedly took his body to the bathroom, where Sahil chopped off his head and both hands. The body parts were subsequently placed inside a plastic drum and sealed with cement.Meerut Blue Drum Murder: Court Convicts Muskan And Sahil 576 Days After Saurabh Rajput's KillingAccused allegedly travelled after murderAfter the murder, Muskan and Sahil allegedly travelled to Shimla and Manali. Police said Muskan continued posting photographs and videos on Instagram for around 13 days to create the impression that she was travelling with her husband.How the crime came to lightThe crime came to light on March 18, when Saurabh’s younger brother, Rahul, visited the house and found Muskan with Sahil. Suspicious of her explanation and a foul smell emanating from the house, he alerted others, following which the police were called.Before the verdict, Saurabh’s family had sought the strictest possible punishment for the accused.#WATCH मेरठ, उत्तर प्रदेश: सौरभ राजपूत की मां रेनू देवी ने कहा, "हमें बहुत अच्छा लग रहा है। हमें बहुत संतुष्टि मिल रही है कि उन दोनों को मौत की सज़ा सुनाई गई है। हमें इंसाफ मिल गया है। हम अपने वकीलों, सहयोगियों और स्टाफ के बहुत आभारी हैं और उनके ऋणी रहेंगे... " https://t.co/yZfz9wTj1Y— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) October 14, 2026After the court pronounced the sentence, Saurabh Rajput’s mother, Renu Devi, said, “We are very happy and feel a great sense of satisfaction that both of them have been sentenced to death. We have got justice. We are deeply grateful to our lawyers, associates and staff, and will remain indebted to them.”

Death penalty for Muskan boyfriend Sahil in infamous Meerut blue drum murder case