A district court in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday sentenced Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of her husband, Saurabh Rajput, whose dismembered remains were discovered sealed inside a cement-filled plastic drum. District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra delivered the verdict through video conferencing, also imposing a fine of Rs 20,000 on each convict. Muskan broke down with folded hands as the capital punishment was pronounced, while Sahil also appeared emotional. The court had convicted both individuals on September 30, 2026, following a trial that drew significant attention across the country for the brutal nature of the crime.
Murder Followed Victim’s Return from London
Saurabh Rajput had returned to Meerut on February 24, 2025, after leaving his job in London. According to the prosecution, the murder took place on the night of March 3, shortly after Saurabh brought home a dish of kofta curry from the residence of his mother, Renu Devi. Muskan mixed a sedative into the meal, causing her husband to lose consciousness, before summoning Sahil to the house to carry out the killing together.
The two then dismembered Saurabh’s body inside the bathroom. The accused initially attempted to pack the remains into a briefcase, but abandoned the plan after its hook broke. They subsequently placed the body parts inside a blue plastic drum, filling it with cement in an effort to conceal the crime and destroy forensic evidence.
Missing Complaint Led Police to Concealed Remains
The crime came to light after Saurabh’s brother, Bablu, lodged a missing person complaint at Brahmpuri police station on March 18, 2025, voicing suspicions regarding Muskan and Sahil. Discrepancies in Muskan’s statements during initial questioning prompted investigators to search the property. On March 19, police cut open the blue drum found inside the house, recovering the victim’s remains, and promptly arrested both suspects. The police submitted a formal chargesheet before the court on May 12, 2025.
Before the sentence was pronounced, the court granted both convicts an opportunity to speak. Muskan pleaded for the future and upbringing of her two daughters before falling silent, while Sahil chose not to speak. Jail officials noted that both had grown restless and were eating poorly ahead of the verdict, with Muskan repeatedly requesting permission to see her seven-year-old daughter. Defence counsel Rekha Jain had argued for leniency citing the children and Muskan’s elderly parents. However, Muskan’s parents submitted a written letter to the court via the police stating they had severed ties with their daughter and demanded the harshest punishment possible.
Circumstantial and Technical Evidence Secured Conviction
With no direct eyewitnesses to the murder, the prosecution built its case entirely on circumstantial and technical material. District Government Counsel Krishna Kumar Chaubey sought capital punishment by highlighting the brutality of the killing and the deliberate attempt to destroy evidence. The evidence placed on record included the recovery of a knife and a razor at the instance of the accused, confirmed presence of human blood on the weapons, call detail records, mobile tower locations, and social media exchanges.
Investigators also corroborated the timeline using CCTV footage, hotel registers, and the statement of a cab driver who ferried the accused. Testimonies from 22 witnesses, including Saurabh’s family members and a friend, alongside forensic laboratory findings, proved crucial in completing the chain of evidence that established guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
