Full Breakdown
Death Sentence in Meerut’s “Blue Drum” Murder Case
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Court Verdict and Sentencing
On October 14 2026, District and Sessions Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of merchant-navy officer Saurabh Rajput. The judgment follows convictions on September 30 2026 for murder and for destroying evidence. Both convicts appeared via video-conference from Meerut’s Chaudhary Charan Singh Jail. The court also ordered each to pay fines for the offences.
Background of the Crime
Police allege that Rastogi sedated Rajput by lacing his food on March 3 2025 at their Indra Nagar residence. Shukla arrived shortly thereafter; together they stabbed Rajput, dismembered his body, and sealed the remains in a blue plastic drum filled with cement, sand and water. The couple fled to Himachal Pradesh. Their daughter’s comment that “Papa is in the drum” led relatives to involve police on March 17 2025. Investigators recovered the drum and the remains, leading to the arrests of Rastogi and Shukla on March 18 2025.
Timeline of Key Events
- February 24 2025 – Rajput returns to Meerut from London.
- March 3 2025 – Alleged sedation and murder.
- March 17 2025 – Drum opened; remains recovered.
- March 18 2025 – Rastogi and Shukla arrested.
- July 2025 – Trial begins in Meerut district court.
- September 30 2026 – Conviction for murder and evidence destruction.
- October 14 2026 – Death sentences pronounced; fines imposed.
Legal Findings and Penalties
- Hearings: 126 court sessions.
- Witnesses: 22 prosecution witnesses examined.
- Fines: INR50,000 each for murder (Section 302 IPC) and INR20,000 each for destroying evidence (Section 238 A IPC), totalling INR70,000 per convict.
- Future Procedure: A death sentence from a sessions court must be confirmed by the Allahabad High Court before execution.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecution lawyer K. K. Chaubey emphasized the gravity of the offence and the need for proportionate punishment.
Renu Devi, Rajput’s mother, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, saying the family had waited 18 months for justice.
Vijay Bahadur, representing Rajput’s family, noted that the prosecution had referenced three prior cases where courts imposed the death penalty for similar crimes.
Jail officials reported that both convicts cried uncontrollably after the verdict, have been given new prisoner numbers (Shukla 395, Rastogi 396), and are now monitored closely. They have been instructed on the possibility of appeal to the High Court.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact date of the murder: several outlets (NDTV, Free Press Journal, India Today) state it occurred on March 3 2025, while others (India Times, India TV News) record it on March 4 2025. Both dates appear in police statements, but the court documents do not clarify the discrepancy.
What’s Next
The death sentences will be reviewed by the Allahabad High Court. The convicts retain the right to appeal the verdict and the imposed fines. Until the High Court’s decision, the sentences remain pending.