In a major development in one of Uttar Pradesh’s most shocking murder cases, a court in Meerut has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput, a merchant navy officer whose remains were discovered inside a cement-filled blue plastic drum in March 2025.
District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra pronounced the sentence on Wednesday, bringing the trial to a significant stage after the court convicted the two accused on September 30. The case, widely known as the Meerut blue drum murder case, drew nationwide attention because of the circumstances surrounding Rajput’s death and the alleged attempt to conceal his remains.
The sentencing followed a trial that lasted approximately 13 months and involved 126 court hearings. The prosecution presented 22 witnesses and relied on circumstantial, forensic, medical and other evidence to establish its case against the accused.
Court Sentenced Death Penalty After Lengthy Trial
The Meerut district court found Rastogi and Shukla guilty of offences connected with Rajput’s murder and the concealment of evidence. Following their conviction, the court considered the appropriate punishment before announcing the death sentence on Wednesday.
The prosecution had sought capital punishment, arguing that the brutality of the crime and the efforts allegedly made to destroy evidence warranted the severest penalty available under the law.
Both convicts appeared before the court through video conferencing from custody. The verdict marked a crucial development in a case that had remained in the public spotlight since the discovery of Rajput’s remains.
The death sentence represents the trial court’s decision at this stage. Any applicable appeal and confirmation proceedings will remain important to the case’s further legal course.
What Happened in the Blue Drum Murder Case?
According to the prosecution, Rajput was murdered at his residence in Meerut on March 3, 2025. Investigators alleged that his wife, Muskan Rastogi, and her partner, Sahil Shukla, were involved in the crime.
The prosecution’s account stated that Rajput was allegedly sedated before being killed. His body was subsequently dismembered, and the remains were placed inside a large blue plastic drum. Cement and other materials were allegedly used to conceal the remains and make it more difficult to discover the crime.
The case came to light when police recovered the remains from the residence. The discovery triggered an investigation that eventually led to the arrest of Rastogi and Shukla.
The unusual method allegedly used to hide the body became the defining feature of the case, drawing widespread media coverage and public attention across India.
Investigators examined the circumstances of the murder, the procurement of materials allegedly used in concealing the remains, and the movements of the accused before and after the incident.
How Investigators Built the Case
The prosecution relied on a chain of evidence to connect the accused with the murder and the alleged destruction of evidence.
Witnesses included individuals associated with the purchase of the blue drum, a knife and other materials that investigators believed were relevant to the crime. Their statements helped the prosecution establish aspects of the alleged preparation and concealment.
Hotel managers and cab drivers were also examined during the proceedings. Their testimony, along with records relating to the accused persons’ movements and stays at different locations, formed part of the evidence presented before the court.
Medical, forensic and scientific evidence also played a role in the prosecution’s case. Investigators sought to establish the circumstances of Rajput’s death and connect the available evidence with the sequence of events described by the prosecution.
The court heard the matter over 126 hearings, with statements from 22 prosecution witnesses forming part of the trial record. After considering the evidence and arguments, the court convicted both accused in September before deciding their sentences in October.
Family’s Wait for Justice Reaches a Critical Stage
Rajput’s family had been seeking stringent punishment for those found responsible for his death. During the proceedings, members of the family expressed their faith in the judicial process and their expectation that the court would deliver justice.
The prolonged trial brought considerable emotional strain for the family, who had to wait through repeated hearings before the court reached its verdict.
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The September 30 conviction was a major milestone, as it established the criminal liability of Rastogi and Shukla in the case. Wednesday’s sentencing took the proceedings a step further, with the court imposing the death penalty on both.
The sentence is particularly significant because the prosecution had argued that the nature of the offence justified capital punishment. The final legal outcome, however, will depend on the further proceedings available under Indian law.
A Case That Shocked the Country
The Meerut blue drum murder case became one of the most widely discussed criminal investigations of 2025. The discovery of Rajput’s remains inside a sealed drum, along with allegations concerning the planning and concealment of the murder, brought intense public scrutiny to the investigation.
The case also highlighted the role of physical evidence, witness testimony and forensic investigation in criminal trials. Rather than relying on a single piece of evidence, the prosecution presented multiple strands of information to establish its version of events.
The court’s decision followed months of proceedings in which the prosecution’s evidence and the defence’s arguments were considered before the verdict and sentencing.
What Happens Next?
Although the Meerut court has awarded the death penalty, the legal process does not necessarily end with the trial court’s order. Under Indian law, a death sentence passed by a sessions court must be confirmed by the High Court before it can be carried out. The convicts may also pursue the remedies available to them under the law.
The case will therefore continue to be closely watched as the judicial process moves forward.
For Rajput’s family, the sentencing marks a major moment in their long pursuit of justice. For the wider public, the case remains a disturbing reminder of the importance of evidence-based investigations and due process in bringing serious crimes before the courts.
The Meerut blue drum murder case has reached a crucial judicial milestone, but the next stages of the legal process will determine its ultimate outcome.
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