Meerut
Muskaan Rastogi, lover Sahil Shukla get death sentence in Meerut blue drum murder case
Meerut/IBNS: A court in Meerut has sentenced Muskaan Rastogi and her lover, Sahil Shukla, to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput, a former merchant navy officer, whose dismembered body was concealed inside a blue plastic drum filled with a concrete mixture in March 2025.
The two were convicted of the murder earlier, with District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra pronouncing the sentence on Wednesday, October 14, after a trial involving 126 hearings and statements from 22 witnesses.
The blue drum emerged as a crucial piece of evidence in the case.
Court hears family's response
During the proceedings, Muskaan's parents described Saurabh as a “very good person” and told the court they would not oppose the death penalty if the convicted pair received it.
According to reports, Muskaan's family had not met her in prison.
The judge observed that crimes of this nature create fear across society.
The sentencing followed the court's examination of the prosecution's evidence and its decision to hold Muskaan and Sahil responsible for the killing and the concealment of Saurabh's remains.
How the murder unfolded
According to the prosecution's account, the murder took place on March 3, 2025, at the couple's home in Indra Nagar, Meerut.
Muskaan allegedly mixed a sedative into her husband Saurabh's food, leaving him incapacitated before Sahil arrived.
The prosecution said the pair then stabbed Saurabh to death and dismembered his body in the bathroom.
They allegedly placed the remains inside a large blue plastic drum and poured in a mixture of sand, water and cement before sealing it.
Investigators said the concrete mixture was used to conceal the remains and mask the smell of decomposition.
The drum subsequently became the central physical exhibit in the investigation and trial.
Duo fled to Himachal Pradesh
The prosecution said Muskaan and Sahil left for Himachal Pradesh the day after the killing.
During their absence, Muskaan allegedly used Saurabh's mobile phone to send messages to his relatives, creating the impression that he was alive and travelling for work.
Suspicion grew when Saurabh's relatives were unable to establish his whereabouts.
On March 17, 2025, family members visited the residence with local authorities.
According to reports, the couple's six-year-old daughter had told neighbours, “Papa is in the drum.”
The information heightened suspicions about the sealed container inside the home.
Police subsequently opened the drum and discovered Saurabh's remains.
Muskaan and Sahil were arrested two days later, following the discovery and the ensuing investigation.
Evidence presented during trial
The prosecution built its case around circumstantial, technical and physical evidence.
Shopkeepers told investigators that they had sold the blue plastic drum, cement bags, sand, cleavers and razors to the accused before the murder.
Call detail records and mobile tower locations were also presented to establish Sahil's presence at the residence around the time of the crime.
Investigators used mobile data to trace the pair's movements and their hotel stays in Shimla and Manali, in Himachal Pradesh.
Post-mortem findings supported the prosecution's account that Saurabh had died from stab wounds.
The court considered the evidence presented during the trial, which concluded after 126 hearings and the examination of 22 witnesses.
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