The Meerut district court on Wednesday convicted Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla in the sensational ‘blue drum murder case,’ in which the duo polished off the former’s husband, Saurabh Rajput, sending shockwaves across the nation.

District judge Arvind Kumar Mishra found the duo guilty of murdering Rajput, who was a merchant navy officer, and concealing his body. The verdict came after nearly 13 months of court proceedings, 126 hearings and testimony from 22 prosecution witnesses.

The court has reserved its order on the quantum of the punishment, official sources said. The sentencing proceedings will be held on October 14, 2026, during which the duo will be given an opportunity to make submissions on the sentences.

The duo appeared in the hearing in the virtual mode from the local jail where they have been incarcerated.

Prosecution seeks harsh punishment

Government counsel Krishna Kumar Chaubey said that the court, while finding the duo guilty, cited an earlier ruling made by the Supreme Court (SC) and noted that perpetrators of heinous and serious crimes should receive a befitting punishment to reinforce the rule of law.

He went on to say that the next stage of proceedings would be centred on the quantum of the sentence, with both convicts entitled to present their arguments before the court. Chaubey said the court has the power to award the death penalty, but the final decision on punishment rests with the judge. Continuing his statements, he said the prosecution has sought the maximum possible punishment, citing the nature of the crime and the evidence presented during the trial.

22 prosecution witnesses examined

During the course of the 13-month-long proceedings, the prosecution examined 22 witnesses whose evidence was considered relevant to establishing its case. They included people associated with the alleged purchase of items such as cement, knife, utensils and a blue drum. Chaubey said, “The 22 witnesses who were useful for proving our prosecution case were examined,” adding that the witnesses included a medicine seller, the person who sold the drum, a cement supplier and people linked to the purchase of knife and utensils.

Hotel managers were also examined, while records pertaining to the accused persons’ stays at different locations were also produced in the court. Cab drivers were questioned about their alleged movements during the relevant period.

Body dismembered, concealed in blue drum

The case pertains to the killing of Saurabh Rajput in Meerut in March 2025. As per the prosecution, Rajput was murdered and his body was dismembered. Thereafter, the duo placed his severed body parts inside a blue plastic drum, which was later filled with cement.

The alleged crime came to light after Rajput’s remains were discovered at the couple’s house, following which the cops collared both Muskan and Sahil. The prosecution alleged that the duo had conspired to kill Rajput and conceal his body to evade the law.

Adding to the allegations, it said that Muskan dragged her husband before the killing, after which she and Sahil dismembered the body and concealed the remains inside the cement-filled drum.

Official sources said that final arguments in the case came to an end on September 17 this year, following which the court set September 30 as the date for verdict. Chaubey said both the convicts appeared ‘mentally prepared’ for the possibility of conviction, calling their demeanour ‘defeated.’