Meerut Blue Drum Murder: Muskan Rastogi, Sahil Shukla Challenge Death Penalty

The two convicts in the sensational Meerut blue drum murder case, Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, have approached the Allahabad High Court challenging the death sentence awarded to them for the murder of Muskan’s husband, Saurabh Rajput.

A division bench of the high court is likely to hear their appeal next week. The appeal was filed on Friday through senior advocate Sushil Shukla, who said both convicts had consented to his appointment as their counsel.

In their appeal, Muskan and Sahil have described the trial court’s verdict as illegal and arbitrary, seeking acquittal of all charges under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. They have argued that the prosecution failed to establish the case beyond reasonable doubt and that the trial court relied on speculation and conjecture while evaluating the evidence.

The defence has maintained that the case rested entirely on circumstantial evidence and alleged that established legal principles were overlooked during the trial. The appeal also points to purported contradictions in witness statements concerning the purchase of the weapon, cement and plastic drum allegedly used in the crime.

The convicts have further argued that CCTV footage and valid purchase receipts were not produced to substantiate these transactions. Other grounds cited include the alleged absence of independent witnesses’ signatures on recovery memos, lapses in videography procedures and the absence of mandatory certificates for electronic evidence.

A Meerut court convicted the duo on September 30 and sentenced them to death on October 14 after a trial lasting around 13 months and 126 hearings.

Saurabh Rajput, a former merchant navy officer, was murdered on March 3, 2025, in the Brahmpuri police station area of Meerut. According to the prosecution, Muskan and Sahil concealed his body inside a blue plastic drum filled with cement and concrete in an attempt to dispose of it.

The case triggered widespread public outrage after the details emerged. Following an investigation, police arrested both Muskan and Sahil.

The high court will now examine the grounds raised by the convicts against the trial court’s findings and death sentence. Their appeal challenges the prosecution’s evidence and the legal basis of the conviction, setting the stage for the next phase of the high-profile case.