SRINAGAR: A local court in Meerut has sentenced Muskaan Rastogi and her lover, Sahil Shukla, to death for the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, whose dismembered remains were concealed inside a blue plastic drum filled with cement and sand.District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra pronounced the sentence on Wednesday, around two weeks after convicting the duo. The verdict followed 126 hearings and statements from 22 witnesses during the trial.According to the prosecution, the murder took place on March 3, 2025, at the couple’s residence in Indra Nagar, Meerut. Rastogi allegedly sedated her husband by mixing a substance into his food, following which Shukla arrived and the two stabbed Rajput to death.The prosecution said the accused subsequently dismembered the body and placed the remains inside a large blue plastic drum, sealing it with a mixture of cement, sand and water in an attempt to conceal the crime.The duo allegedly travelled to Himachal Pradesh the following day. Investigators said Rastogi used Rajput’s mobile phone to send messages to his family, creating the impression that he was alive and away on business.The case came to light on March 17, 2025, when suspicious relatives visited the residence along with local authorities. Police opened the sealed drum and discovered Rajput’s remains. Rastogi and Shukla were arrested two days later.During the trial, the prosecution presented circumstantial, technical and physical evidence, including shopkeepers’ statements regarding the purchase of the drum and other materials. Call detail records and mobile tower locations were also cited to establish Shukla’s presence at the residence and trace the accused’s subsequent movements to Shimla and Manali.The post-mortem examination confirmed that Rajput had died from stab injuries.The verdict brings a significant development in the high-profile murder case that drew widespread attention after the discovery of the body inside the blue drum.
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