In brief
Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla were convicted on 30 September in Meerut for murdering Rastogi’s husband, Saurabh Rajput, by lacing his food with sedatives and burying the body in a blue plastic container. They received death sentences, a verdict pending High Court confirmation. The case highlights the harsh penalties for violent crimes in Uttar Pradesh.
Warning: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing.
A 26‑year‑old woman, Muskan Rastogi, and her 28‑year‑old boyfriend, Sahil Shukla, have been sentenced to death in Meerut for the brutal murder of Rastogi’s husband, Saurabh Rajput, who had been working in London.
On 3 March 2025, Rajput was lured to a restaurant where Rastogi is said to have given him a sedative‑laden meal before he was strangled. Police recovered his body from a large blue plastic storage container — a local "blue drum" that has become a grim symbol of the case.
Rastogi and Shukla fled to Himachal Pradesh but used Rajput’s mobile phone to send misleading messages to his family, making it appear he was still alive. Rajput’s family later reported him missing, leading to an investigation and their arrest.
The Meerut court convicted them on 30 September and handed down death sentences, a verdict that must be confirmed by the High Court. Both defendants can appeal against the outcome.
Family members of the victim condemned the crime as "a brutal murder." Rastogi’s father said, "My daughter, along with a friend, murdered her husband in her own home. She is a danger to society."
While incarcerated, Rastogi gave birth to a second child.
