A Meerut district court on Wednesday, September 30, delivered a significant verdict in the notorious "Blue Drum Murder Case," finding Muskan Rastogi and her alleged lover Sahil Shukla guilty. The duo was accused of the murder of former Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput, whose dismembered remains were discovered in a blue plastic drum at his Meerut residence in March 2025.
Verdict After 126 Hearings
District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra pronounced the verdict following an extensive trial that spanned approximately 13 months. The legal proceedings involved 126 hearings and testimony from more than 22 witnesses. The prosecution heavily relied on a combination of forensic and scientific evidence to build its case against the accused. Final arguments in the case concluded on September 17, with the court reserving September 30 for the pronouncement of the judgment. The court is now set to hear arguments regarding the quantum of punishment, with the prosecution seeking stringent penalties, including the death penalty, for both Muskan and Sahil. The final sentence is anticipated after these submissions are considered.
Details of the Horrific Crime
According to the prosecution, Saurabh Rajput was allegedly killed in March 2025. Investigators presented evidence suggesting that Rajput was first drugged before his murder. Muskan and Sahil then reportedly dismembered his body and concealed the remains inside a large blue plastic drum, which they subsequently sealed with cement. Police later recovered the remains during their investigation, leading to the unraveling of the crime.
Key evidence presented by the prosecution included the alleged purchase of a knife, a razor, cement, sand, and the blue drum itself prior to the killing. Police and forensic witnesses provided testimony regarding the recovery of the body parts and other crucial evidence. Post-mortem findings further corroborated the prosecution's claims, documenting injuries consistent with sharp-edged weapons.
Defence Challenges and Circumstantial Evidence
The defence counsel challenged the prosecution's narrative, primarily by highlighting the absence of any eyewitnesses to the actual murder. They also argued that the accused had been implicated in connection with a property dispute, suggesting an alternative motive or framing. Consequently, the case's outcome largely hinged on the strength of the circumstantial, forensic, and scientific evidence presented and scrutinized throughout the trial.
Case Timeline
The case was formally brought to court on March 17, 2025, just two days after Muskan and Sahil were sent to Meerut jail. The trial was later transferred to the district judge's court in July 2025, where the proceedings and arguments continued for approximately 13 months, culminating in today's guilty verdict.