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Blue Drum Murder Case (Img: Dynamite News)
Meerut: A local court in this Uttar Pradesh district on Wednesday awarded death sentence to Muskan Rastogi and her paramour Sahil Shukla in the high-profile blue drum murder case involving the killing of Muskan’s husband, Saurabh Rajput.
District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra had convicted both accused on September 30 for murder and destruction of evidence. The case drew widespread attention because of allegations that Saurabh’s body was dismembered, placed inside a blue plastic drum and concealed with cement.
The case dates back to March 3, 2025. According to the prosecution, Muskan killed Saurabh with the help of Sahil. The body was allegedly cut into pieces, placed inside a blue drum and sealed with cement in an attempt to conceal the crime.
The case proceeded through 126 hearing dates before the court pronounced the two accused guilty. After examining the evidence presented during the trial, the court concluded that the prosecution had established their involvement in the murder and the subsequent attempt to destroy evidence.
Following the conviction, the court granted the accused 15 days to present their submissions on the question of sentencing. Earlier on September 19, the court had reserved its verdict on the issue of guilt.
The court also referred to a Supreme Court ruling while considering the appropriate punishment, underscoring the need for a proportionate sentence in serious criminal cases.
Throughout the proceedings, Saurabh’s mother Renu Sharma had been hoping for justice for her son. During Navratri, family members observed fasts and performed religious rituals, praying for a favourable outcome in the case.
Saurabh’s brother, Rahul, also known as Bablu, had said that the family would approach the Supreme Court if necessary to pursue justice. He expressed hope that the trial court would award the death penalty to both convicts and indicated that the family would continue its legal fight if the sentence did not meet its expectations.
Muskan’s mother-in-law had also sought the death penalty for both accused. The family maintained that a stringent punishment was necessary for them to feel that justice had been served.
According to the prosecution’s case, Muskan allegedly rendered Saurabh unconscious by administering a narcotic substance before killing him with a knife with Sahil’s assistance.
The prosecution further alleged that the body was dismembered and placed inside a blue drum, which was then sealed with cement to conceal the crime. Investigators alleged that the two accused travelled to Himachal Pradesh after the incident, where they partied, before returning on March 17, 2025.
Police arrested the accused on March 18 and 19, 2025. Sahil was produced before the court on March 19 amid heightened security arrangements. During the proceedings, an angry group of lawyers allegedly assaulted him.
Also Read: Muskan Rastogi Seeks to Meet Daughter Before Sentencing in Blue Drum Murder Case
The blue drum murder case became one of the most closely followed criminal cases in Uttar Pradesh, owing to the nature of the alleged crime and the circumstances in which the body was concealed.
The lengthy trial, the prosecution’s account of the alleged murder and the family’s public demand for justice kept the case in spotlight. With the sentencing decision, a major stage of the trial has concluded. Any further legal proceedings or appeals will determine the next chapter in the case.
