Meerut: In a major development in the sensational Meerut Blue Drum Murder Case, a court has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and her boyfriend, Sahil Shukla, to death for the murder of Muskan’s husband, Saurabh Rajput. The gruesome killing, followed by the concealment of the victim’s dismembered body inside a cement-filled blue plastic drum, had sent shockwaves across the country in March 2025.
The death sentence was pronounced by Meerut District and Sessions Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The court had convicted the duo on September 30 after a lengthy trial involving 126 hearings and the examination of 22 prosecution witnesses.
The case attracted nationwide attention because of the brutality of the murder and the alleged attempt to destroy evidence by hiding the victim’s remains inside a drum sealed with cement. The prosecution sought the maximum punishment, arguing that the nature of the crime warranted the death penalty.
Court invokes Mahabharata
During the sentencing proceedings, the court reportedly referred to the Mahabharata to underline the principle that punishing the guilty in accordance with the gravity of their crime is part of dharma, or righteous duty.
According to reports quoting prosecution lawyer K.K. Chaubey, the court also imposed fines of ₹50,000 each under the murder provision and ₹20,000 each under the provision relating to causing the disappearance of evidence.
The two convicts appeared before the court through video conferencing from jail and were given an opportunity to present their submissions before the sentence was announced.
A strong message of justice! 💕
The court has sentenced Muskan and her lover Sahil to death in the Meerut blue drum murder case. https://t.co/HkciKQFRKs
— NCIB Headquarters (@NCIBHQ) October 14, 2026
How the horrific murder unfolded
The case dates back to March 2025, when Saurabh Rajput, a former Merchant Navy officer who had been working in London, returned to Meerut to spend time with his family.
According to the prosecution, Rajput was murdered at his home on March 3, 2025. Investigators alleged that Muskan and Sahil conspired to kill him and subsequently dismembered his body before concealing the remains inside a large blue plastic drum. The container was reportedly filled with cement and sand in an alleged attempt to prevent the crime from being discovered.
The shocking discovery of the body brought the case into the national spotlight. The circumstances surrounding the murder and the alleged involvement of the victim’s wife and her boyfriend triggered widespread public outrage.
Police subsequently arrested the two accused and launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the killing.
Evidence presented during the trial
The prosecution relied on circumstantial, forensic, medical and technical evidence to establish its case. Investigators examined mobile phone records, location data, the movements of the accused and evidence relating to the purchase of the drum and other materials.
During the trial, the prosecution presented witnesses and evidence to establish the sequence of events surrounding the murder and the subsequent concealment of the body.
After hearing the arguments and examining the evidence, the court convicted Muskan and Sahil on September 30, 2026. The sentencing proceedings culminated in the death penalty on October 14.
A major development for the victim’s family
The verdict marks a significant development in the family’s pursuit of justice for Saurabh Rajput. The brutal circumstances of his death and the alleged attempt to conceal his remains had made the case one of the most widely discussed criminal investigations in the country.
The death sentence represents the trial court’s assessment of the gravity of the offence. However, the legal proceedings are not necessarily over, as the convicts retain the right to challenge the verdict and sentence through the available legal remedies.
What happens next?
Under Indian law, a death sentence imposed by a Sessions Court must be confirmed by the jurisdictional High Court before it can be carried out. The High Court will independently examine the case and may confirm, modify or set aside the sentence in accordance with the law.
The verdict therefore brings the trial-court stage of the Meerut Blue Drum Murder Case to a major turning point. The next stage of judicial scrutiny will determine whether the death sentences stand.
The case has once again drawn attention to the importance of forensic investigation, evidence-based prosecution and judicial scrutiny in ensuring accountability in serious criminal offences.
