A district court in Meerut sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death on 14 October 2026 in the murder case involving Saurabh Rajput, a former Merchant Navy employee. The case became widely known as the Blue Drum Murder case.
The court had previously found Rastogi and Shukla guilty in Rajput's murder. They are being held at Chaudhary Charan Singh Prison in Meerut. The sentencing followed about 13 months of arguments, 127 hearing dates and statements from more than 22 witnesses.
Before the punishment was announced, the court questioned both convicts through video conference. The judge asked whether they wanted to say anything. Both declined to make a statement.
What the case involved
The case relates to Rajput's murder in Meerut in March 2025. According to the case account, Rastogi and Shukla killed him and placed his dismembered remains inside a blue drum sealed with cement.
Rajput had been living abroad and returned to India on leave to celebrate his wife's birthday and his daughter's birthday. He came back to Meerut during the final week of February 2025. The case account says he then learned about the relationship between Rastogi and Shukla.
The prosecution account described 3 March 2025 as the night of the killing. Rastogi allegedly mixed a sedative into Rajput's food and called Shukla to the house after he became unconscious. The two were accused of killing him and cutting up his body in the bathroom.
The remains were then placed in a large blue drum. Cement and sand were bought, and a cement mixture was poured over the remains to seal the container.
How the case came to light
After the killing, Rastogi left her daughter with her maternal family and travelled with Shukla to Shimla and Manali. The case account says the trip lasted about 13 days. During that period, she used Rajput's phone and social-media accounts to create the impression that he was alive.
She reportedly told relatives that Rajput had gone travelling with her. After returning from Himachal Pradesh, she told her daughter and other family members that Rajput had suddenly gone back abroad when questions were raised about his absence.
Suspicion intensified when the daughter repeatedly asked to meet her father. The case was brought to police attention on 18 March 2025, when Rajput's brother, Rahul, reached the house.
Rahul noticed that Shukla was present and detected an unusual smell coming from inside. During a search of the house, police opened the blue drum and found dismembered remains identified in the case account as Rajput's. Police then arrested Rastogi and Shukla.
Court proceedings
The court's sentencing decision came after the two accused had already been convicted. The hearings included arguments over about 13 months and evidence from more than 22 witnesses.
The sentence announced on 14 October 2026 is the latest court decision described in the supplied case account. The account identifies Rastogi as Rajput's wife and Shukla as her partner in the case.
Conclusion
The Meerut district court has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death after convicting them in Saurabh Rajput's murder. The case came to light on 18 March 2025 after police found his remains in a cement-sealed blue drum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What sentence did the Meerut court announce?
The court sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death.
Q. Who was killed in the case?
The victim was Saurabh Rajput, a former Merchant Navy employee.
Q. When was the sentence announced?
The sentence was announced on 14 October 2026.
Q. Why is the case called the Blue Drum Murder case?
The case is known by that name because Rajput's remains were found inside a blue drum sealed with cement.
Q. When did police discover the remains?
The case came to police attention on 18 March 2025, when Rajput's brother reached the house and raised suspicion.
Q. Where are the two convicts being held?
They are being held at Chaudhary Charan Singh Prison in Meerut.
Q. Were the accused questioned before sentencing?
Yes. The court questioned both through video conference before announcing the sentence. Both declined to say anything.
