Muskan, lover receive death penalty in Meerut blue drum murder case: Why did judge invoke Mahabharata while sentencing?
Merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput was killed on March 3, 2025 by his wife Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla. His body was discovered two weeks later, concealed with cement in a blue drum.
In the Meerut blue drum murder case, a Meerut court has sentenced Muskan Rastogi and her lover, Sahil Shukla, to death for the gruesome murder of Saurabh Rajput. The body of Saurabh, a merchant navy officer, was found dismembered and cemented inside a blue drum. Saurabh was killed on March 3, 2025, and his body was discovered about two weeks later.
The 13-month trial concluded on October 14 with district Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra delivering the verdict after 126 hearings. Muskan, who has two young daughters, and Sahil appeared anxious before the sentencing, reportedly not eating or sleeping much. Both were brought separately before the court via video conferencing from prison.
During the sentencing, Judge Mishra invoked the Mahabharata, a revered ancient Indian epic, stating that "punishment is also dharma." He added, "Punishment has been referred to as dharma, meaning punishing a criminal is itself a righteous act." Muskan and Sahil were subsequently sentenced to death for the murder and the attempt to conceal Saurabh's body.
The conviction came after the couple admitted to dismembering the victim's body and placing the remains in a blue drum, which was then filled with cement to hide the crime.
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