A Meerut district court on September 30, 2026, convicted Muskan Rastogi and her partner Sahil Shukla for the murder and dismemberment of Saurabh Rajput, an ex-Merchant Navy officer. The verdict concludes a legal process that lasted 576 days, following a crime that drew significant attention for its premeditated nature and the specific method used to conceal the victim’s remains.
The trial, which began after the discovery of the victim in March 2025, involved 126 hearings and the testimony of 22 witnesses. According to court records, the prosecution established that the duo planned the murder at least eight days in advance, purchasing specialized knives and a cut-throat razor to carry out the killing and subsequent dismemberment.
The ‘Blue Drum’ Execution
The case was characterized by the forensic evidence found within a blue industrial plastic drum. Investigators reported that after Rajput was killed, his body was dismembered and placed inside the container. To prevent the detection of the remains and to manage the odor of decomposition, the convicts reportedly filled the drum with a mixture of cement and sand, effectively sealing the body inside a solid block.
The murder took place in March 2025. Evidence presented during the trial detailed the fatal assault and the subsequent concealment of the victim.
Legal and Humanitarian Complexity
The case took an unusual turn during the pre-trial phase when Muskan Rastogi, who was pregnant at the time of her arrest, gave birth to a baby girl while in custody. Muskan gave birth to the child on November 24, 2025, adding a layer of complexity to the incarceration and the ongoing legal proceedings as the family of the deceased sought DNA testing to establish parentage.
Following the guilty verdict, the prosecution has formally requested the death penalty for both Rastogi and Shukla. Lead prosecutors argued that the “rarest of rare” doctrine should apply due to the extreme cruelty and calculated nature of the dismemberment. The defense has sought leniency, citing the welfare of the infant born in prison.
Both convicts will remain in high-security custody as the court weighs the prosecution’s request for capital punishment against the defense’s arguments for life imprisonment.
