Story perspectives

Meerut Court Sentences Couple to Death for Murder

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 4:13 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Meerut Court Sentences

Meerut district court sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for murdering Saurabh Rajput.
Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra delivered the verdict on October 14, 2026 after 126 hearings.
Forensic reports, CCTV and 34 witness statements showed the couple drugged, stabbed and dismembered Rajput.
The death sentences await Allahabad High Court confirmation before they can be carried out.

Summary

Prison Officials Isolate

Prison officials gave Muskaan Rastogi number 396 and Sahil Shukla number 395, housing them apart.
After the death verdict, both inmates stopped eating, prompting staff to monitor their health closely.
Authorities increased surveillance and tightened guard protocols around the two prisoners.
Officials informed the pair they may appeal the sentence to the Allahabad High Court.
Rastogi will wear a cream-coloured saree or suit.

History

Dubey Calls Historic

Advocate Krishan Kumar Dubey called the verdict historic and a precedent for female death sentences.
The accused requested to hear the judgment via video-conference from Chaudhary Charan Singh Jail.
Muskan reportedly began worshipping Lord Shiva while in custody.
Sahil isolated himself from other inmates while in custody.
Saurabh Rajput’s relatives earlier demanded the death penalty for both perpetrators.

History

Historical Context

The 1955 execution of Ruth Ellis in London marked the United Kingdom’s final female capital punishment, ending a controversial era. Home Secretary David Eccles authorized the hanging after a 1-minute parliamentary debate, and the 28-year-old was executed at 8 a.m. Similarly, Meerut district court’s October 14 2026 death verdict for Muskan Rastogi mirrors Ellis’s case, reviving gender-based capital punishment scrutiny in India. The public outcry that led Britain to abolish capital punishment in 1965 now pressures Indian courts to ensure rigorous appellate review and policy reform.

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Meerut Court Sentences

Meerut district court sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for murdering Saurabh Rajput.
Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra delivered the verdict on October 14, 2026 after 126 hearings.
Forensic reports, CCTV and 34 witness statements showed the couple drugged, stabbed and dismembered Rajput.
The death sentences await Allahabad High Court confirmation before they can be carried out.

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