Meerut blue drum horror ends in death sentence: Muskan Rastogi, Sahil Shukla to be hanged for killing merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput

MEERUT: A former Merchant Navy officer was drugged, stabbed to death and dismembered before his remains were concealed inside a blue plastic drum filled with cement and sand. On Wednesday, a court in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut sentenced Muskan Rastogi and her boyfriend, Sahil Shukla, to death for murdering Rastogi’s husband, Saurabh Rajput, in the case that became known as the Meerut blue drum murder.

District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra pronounced the sentence after a trial involving 126 hearings and testimony from 22 prosecution witnesses. The court had convicted the duo on September 30, 2026, of murder and destruction of evidence.

Murder concealed in a blue drum

The crime took place on March 3, 2025, at the couple’s home in Indra Nagar, Meerut. According to the prosecution, Muskan mixed sleeping medication into Saurabh’s food, rendering him unconscious. Sahil arrived at the house, and the two allegedly stabbed Saurabh to death before dismembering his body in the bathroom.

Investigators said the accused placed the remains inside a large blue plastic drum to conceal the crime and prevent the smell of decomposition from attracting attention. They then filled it with a mixture of cement, sand and water before closing the container. The drum concealed the remains, but it could not keep the crime hidden indefinitely.

Messages meant to make him appear alive

The day after the murder, Muskan and Sahil travelled to Himachal Pradesh, according to reports on the investigation. Muskan allegedly used Saurabh’s mobile phone to send messages to relatives, creating the impression that he was alive and away on a trip.

On March 17, 2025, suspicious relatives visited the house with the authorities’ assistance. When the blue drum was opened, they discovered Saurabh’s dismembered remains. Reports also said the couple’s six-year-old daughter had told neighbours that her father was inside the drum. The discovery triggered a police investigation that led to the arrest of Muskan and Sahil within two days.

Evidence that led to the conviction

The prosecution built its case on circumstantial, forensic, technical and physical evidence. Shopkeepers testified about selling the blue drum, cement, sand and sharp-edged weapons allegedly used in the crime. Investigators also relied on call detail records and mobile tower locations to place Sahil at the residence around the time of the murder.

Evidence concerning the couple’s movements and hotel stays in Shimla and Manali was presented to establish their movements after the killing. Post-mortem findings formed another part of the prosecution’s case. The defence challenged aspects of the prosecution’s account, including its reliance on circumstantial evidence, but the court ultimately found both accused guilty after considering the evidence presented during the trial.

Death sentence after 126 hearings

The prosecution sought the death penalty, arguing that the crime warranted the maximum punishment. The defence sought leniency, raising concerns about the future of Muskan’s children. After convicting the pair on September 30, 2026, the court heard arguments on sentencing before pronouncing the death penalty for both accused on October 14.

While delivering the verdict, Judge Mishra observed that crimes of this nature create fear in society. The sentencing marks a major development in a case that drew nationwide attention for the brutality of the killing and the attempt to conceal the remains. The death sentences must undergo confirmation by the High Court before they can be carried out, and the convicts have access to the applicable appeal process.