Death Penalty for Muskan and Sahil in Saurabh Rajput Murder Case
Meerut court sentences Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the brutal murder of Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput in the 'Blue Drum Case'.
In a landmark judgment that has sent shockwaves through the region, the Meerut District Court has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and her lover, Sahil Shukla, to death by hanging. The verdict, handed down by District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra on October 14, 2026, concludes the harrowing legal saga known as the 'Blue Drum Case,' involving the brutal murder of Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput.
The Brutal 'Blue Drum' Conspiracy
The crime, which took place on March 3, 2025, was characterized by extreme premeditation and cruelty. Investigations revealed that the duo had meticulously planned the murder, purchasing a knife, a razor, cement, sand, and a blue drum well in advance to facilitate the crime.
According to the prosecution, the victim was first incapacitated by being drugged with a narcotic liquid. Once he was unconscious, he was stabbed in the heart and neck. In a chilling attempt to hide the evidence, the perpetrators dismembered the body and placed the remains inside a blue drum, which was then sealed with a mixture of cement and sand.
The gruesome discovery was made on March 18, 2025, when the drum was found, leading to the immediate arrest of Muskan and Sahil. The pair was remanded to Meerut jail the following day.
A 16-Month Legal Battle
The trial was a marathon of legal proceedings, spanning 16 months and involving 126 separate hearings. The prosecution, led by lawyer Vijay Bahadur Singh, relied heavily on the testimonies of 22 key witnesses. Their evidence was instrumental in securing a guilty verdict on September 30, 2026, for charges including murder, destruction of evidence, and concealment of evidence.
The convicts, who were former school classmates, participated in the sentencing via video conferencing from jail due to high-security concerns. During the final days leading up to the verdict, reports indicated that both Muskan and Sahil had ceased eating and drinking, remaining under constant CCTV surveillance.
Justice for the Victim's Family
The sentencing brought a sense of closure to the victim's family, who had remained steadfast in their demand for the highest punishment. Saurabh Rajput’s mother, Renu, and his brother, Bablu, were present in the courtroom to witness the final judgment.
In a significant development, Muskan's parents submitted a written statement to the court, explicitly stating that they would not oppose the imposition of the death penalty.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mishra referenced Supreme Court precedents to justify the capital punishment. He emphasized that the exceptionally cruel nature of the crime and its devastating impact on society necessitated the strictest possible punishment.