Meerut Blue Drum Murder Case: Wife Muskan Rastogi and Lover Sahil Shukla Sentenced to Death

MEERUT, UTTAR PRADESH | RD GLOBAL NEWS | INDIA NEWS

In a major development in the widely reported Meerut blue drum murder case, a court in Uttar Pradesh has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput, Muskan’s husband and a former Merchant Navy officer.

The verdict was delivered on October 14, 2026, following a trial that lasted approximately 13 months. The case attracted nationwide attention after Rajput’s dismembered remains were discovered inside a blue plastic drum containing cement at a property in Meerut in March 2025.

The sentencing followed the court’s decision on September 30, when both defendants were convicted of murder and destruction of evidence. The death sentences will require confirmation by the Allahabad High Court before they can be carried out.

What happened in the Meerut blue drum murder case?

Saurabh Rajput had married Muskan Rastogi in 2016. According to the prosecution’s account reported by the media, the investigation centred on an alleged relationship between Muskan and Sahil Shukla and the circumstances surrounding Rajput’s death.

Investigators alleged that Rajput was killed in early March 2025 and that the accused subsequently concealed his remains inside a blue plastic drum using cement and other material in an attempt to hide the crime.

The case came to light after the remains were discovered. Police arrested Muskan and Sahil in March 2025 as the investigation progressed. The unusual method used to conceal the body brought intense public and media attention to the case.

Trial, evidence and the court's decision

The trial involved approximately 126 hearings over 13 months, with the prosecution examining 22 witnesses, according to published reports.

The court found both defendants guilty of murder and destroying evidence before hearing arguments on the appropriate punishment. The prosecution sought the death penalty, pointing to the gravity of the crime and the circumstances in which the victim’s remains were concealed.

On October 14, the court imposed capital punishment on both defendants. The sentence, however, is not the final step in the legal process: Indian law requires a Sessions Court death sentence to be confirmed by the High Court before execution.

Why has the case attracted national attention?

The case has prompted widespread discussion about betrayal, domestic relationships, criminal investigation and the administration of justice.

For the victim’s family, the court’s decision marks a significant development after a prolonged period of investigation and trial. Rajput’s mother publicly expressed relief following the sentencing, according to media reports.

The case has also renewed public debate over the death penalty in India, particularly the legal standard that capital punishment should be reserved for cases meeting the Supreme Court’s “rarest of rare” doctrine.

What happens next?

The matter now faces the required judicial scrutiny of the death sentences by the Allahabad High Court. Until the sentences are confirmed and any applicable legal proceedings are concluded, the punishment cannot be carried out.

The verdict represents a major milestone in the case, but the confirmation process remains an essential safeguard within India’s criminal justice system.

RD Global News: The Meerut blue drum murder case demonstrates the importance of evidence-led investigation, a fair trial and judicial review in serious criminal cases. The High Court confirmation process will determine whether the death sentences can legally proceed.