In a sensational murder case that drew widespread attention in 2025, a Meerut court on Wednesday sentenced Muskan Rastogi and her partner, Sahil Shukla, to death for the murder of her husband, Saurabh Rajput, a Merchant Navy officer. The court had convicted the two accused on September 30, 2026, of murdering Rajput and attempting to conceal his body by dismembering it and placing the remains in a blue plastic drum filled with cement.
The verdict came after 126 hearings during a 13-month trial. According to Saurabh Rajput's lawyer, the Judge cited Bhagavad Gita, emphasising 'dharma to punish wrongdoers' during sentencing.
"The judge cited references from the Mahabharata, affirming that the court would perform its duty, as 'dharma also means punishing those who commit wrongs'. Despite significant efforts by the defence."
After the judgement, Saurabh Rajput's mother, Renu Devi said, "We feel very good; we are deeply satisfied that both of them have been sentenced to death. We received the justice we were seeking. We are extremely grateful to our lawyers, associates, and staff; we will always thank them and remain indebted to them. We have nothing to do with the daughter who is in jail. As for the elder daughter—if her maternal grandparents hand her over to us without any conditions, we will keep her with us."
Meanwhile, the defence accepts the court's order for now, but the convicts plan to appeal the death sentence in the High Court.
"They wish to speak with the jail superintendent to initiate an appeal in the High Court. Ultimately, confirmation of the sentence must come from the High Court; a committee is required to deliberate within three months and decide whether or not the death sentence should be carried out. It is not a matter of simply altering the existing judgement; the High Court's committee will first review the case, and the sentence can only be executed after confirmation is received."
The high-profile case dates back to March 3, 2025, when Muskan allegedly sedated her husband by lacing his food. Shukla arrived at their home shortly afterwards, and the two allegedly stabbed Rajput to death before dismembering his body in the bathroom. To conceal the remains and mask the odour of decomposition, they reportedly placed the body parts inside a large blue plastic drum, filled it with a mixture of sand, water and cement, and sealed it.
The big revelation came when the couple’s six-year-old daughter reportedly told neighbours, "Papa is in the drum."
Now, more than a year after the crime, both accused have been sentenced to death for Rajput’s murder.
From Birthday Celebration to a Brutal Murder
Saurabh Rajput, a Merchant Navy officer, returned to Meerut from London on February 24, 2025, after celebrating Muskan’s birthday. Just over a week later, on March 3, he was allegedly murdered at his rented home in the Indira Nagar area of Meerut.
According to the police, Rajput was drugged and stabbed to death. His body was dismembered and concealed in a blue plastic drum filled with a cement mixture.
The following day, Muskan and Shukla allegedly fled to Himachal Pradesh. During their absence, Muskan reportedly used Rajput’s mobile phone to send text messages to his family members, creating a fake impression that he was alive and travelling for business.
The 'Blue Drum' That Exposed the Crime
On March 17, 2025, Rajput’s relatives grew suspicious and visited the residence with local authorities. The couple’s six-year-old daughter had reportedly told neighbours, "Papa is in the drum."
The police opened the sealed blue drum and discovered Rajput’s remains. The discovery led to a search for the accused, who were arrested on March 18, 2025.
According to reports, Muskan had also confessed to her family, following which the matter was brought to the attention of the police. A case was registered at the Brahmpuri police station in Meerut.
On March 19, 2025, a Meerut court remanded both accused to 14 days of judicial custody.
Nearly 1,000-Page Chargesheet & 13-Month Trial
On May 12, 2025, the police filed a chargesheet running to nearly 1,000 pages. The document reportedly included around 34 witness statements as part of the evidence against the accused.
The trial began before the District Judge’s Court in Meerut. The prosecution presented circumstantial, technical and physical evidence to establish the case against the accused.
Local shopkeepers reportedly testified that they had sold the specific blue plastic drum, cement bags, sand, cleavers and razors to Rastogi and Shukla before Rajput’s murder.
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After 126 hearings over 13 months, District and Sessions Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra convicted Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla of murder on September 30, 2026.
After hearing arguments on the appropriate punishment, the court sentenced both convicts to death on October 14, 2026.
The prosecution had sought capital punishment, arguing that the murder was premeditated and exceptionally brutal. Rajput’s family also demanded the death penalty for the two convicts.
The case had drawn widespread attention following the recovery of Rajput’s remains from a sealed, cement-filled blue drum at a house in Meerut’s Indira Nagar area in March 2025.