Blue Drum Murder Verdict
Meerut Court Convicts Couple for Murder of Merchant Navy Officer
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The court found the pair guilty not only of murder but also of destroying evidence, according to the prosecution lawyer.
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District Judge Arvind Mishra said, “There is no place in a civilised society for such crimes.”
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According to the prosecution, Rajput had returned to Meerut from London on February 24, 2025; Muskan and Sahil allegedly sedated him before attacking him as he slept.
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Police said Muskan travelled to Shimla and Manali with Sahil after the killing and continued posting photos and videos on Instagram for about 13 days to make it appear she was travelling with her husband.
A Meerut court convicted Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla of murdering her husband, merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, after a grueling 13-month trial. LawBeat reports the pair dismembered Rajput's body and sealed it inside a blue industrial drum with cement. District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra said there is "no place in a civilised society for such crimes".
The verdict came after 126 court hearings and testimony from 22 witnesses. Times of India notes prosecutors and Rajput's family have demanded the death penalty. The court will hear sentencing arguments on October 14, 2026, before announcing the punishment.
How the Murder and Cover-Up Unfolded
Rajput returned to Meerut from London on February 24, 2025. NDTV reports that Muskan sedated him by lacing his food. When he fell asleep, Sahil Shukla arrived at their Indra Nagar home. The two attacked and stabbed Rajput in the bathroom, then dismembered his body.
The pair packed his remains inside a blue drum and sealed it with wet cement and sand. The Indian Express says Muskan and Sahil then fled to Shimla and Manali in Himachal Pradesh. For 13 days, Muskan posted photos and videos on Instagram to make it appear her husband was traveling with her. She also texted his family using his phone to avoid suspicion.
A Marriage in Trouble Behind the Crime
The Indian Express reports that Rajput and Muskan eloped in 2016 despite family disapproval. Their marriage deteriorated years later. When The Indian Express spoke to Rajput's mother, Renu Rajput, she said: "Why did she kill my son? She could have simply separated from him." A divorce petition was pending in court at the time of the murder.
Muskan had begun an affair with Sahil Shukla, court records show. The pair conspired to kill Rajput and conceal his body. LawBeat reports the court found them guilty not only of murder but also of criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
The Discovery That Exposed the Murder
Suspicious relatives grew concerned when Rajput did not contact them for days. On March 17, 2025, they entered the Meerut house with local police. NDTV reports authorities opened the sealed blue drum and recovered Rajput's dismembered remains inside. Police launched a cross-state tracking operation and arrested both Muskan and Sahil on March 19, 2025.
The trial began in July 2025 after police filed a 1,000-page charge sheet. LawBeat notes prosecutors called 22 witnesses, including vendors who sold the drum, cement, sand, and tools used in the crime. The verdict came after 126 hearings over 13 months. Judge Mishra noted such acts "create fear in society at large."
Death Penalty Likely as Sentencing Looms
The prosecution team and Rajput's family have both demanded the death penalty. LawBeat reports that in his ruling, the judge cited Supreme Court orders requiring harsh punishment for "heinous and serious crimes." Legal experts say capital punishment or life imprisonment without parole remain the primary sentencing options.
The court granted the defense 15 days to argue for leniency before announcing the final sentence on October 14, 2026. Times of India reports heavy security surrounded the Meerut District Court throughout the trial due to intense public outcry and media attention over the gruesome nature of the crime.
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