{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Convicted in Meerut Blue Drum Murder, Muskan and Sahil Break Down in Prison Ahead of Sentencing",
  "summary": "Following their conviction in the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla are undergoing psychological counseling in prison as fears of the death penalty mount ahead of the October 14 sentencing.",
  "content": "Intense fear and anxiety have gripped convicts Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla after a court found them guilty in the gruesome murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, widely remembered as the infamous blue drum case of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. Both individuals appear deeply shaken by the prospect of facing the death penalty. With the court scheduled to announce their sentences on October 14, prison authorities have initiated psychological counseling sessions to monitor and stabilize their fragile mental state.\n\nSleepless Nights, Refusal of Meals, and Tears Behind Bars\nSenior Superintendent of Jail Dr. Viresh Raj Sharma stated on Thursday that Muskan and Sahil initially turned down their evening meals following the announcement of the verdict. Prison staff had to persistently counsel them before they consented to eating a negligible amount of food. Ongoing counseling sessions were conducted on Thursday as well, and prison authorities confirmed that these psychiatric interventions will remain active given the severe emotional distress of the convicts.\n\nSahil was observed breaking down in tears for the very first time inside the prison premises, while Muskan displayed visible turmoil and apprehension. According to Dr. Sharma, Muskan keeps her six-year-old daughter with her in prison and has expressed profound distress regarding the child's upbringing and future prospects as the final judgment approaches.\n\nFamily Demands Capital Punishment as Court Weighs Arguments\nThe court handed down the guilty verdict against Muskan and Sahil on Wednesday after concluding that the evidence on record clearly proved their collective involvement in Saurabh Rajput's killing. The judicial bench granted both convicts a period of 15 days to present their arguments regarding the quantum of punishment. Following the pronouncement, Saurabh's mother Renu Devi and brother Rahul were overcome with emotion, expressing steadfast faith in the judicial system while demanding the death penalty for both perpetrators.\n\nA Gruesome Plot and Deserted Properties in Brahmpuri\nThe crime occurred on March 4, 2025, through a calculated and brutal plan. Muskan spiked Saurabh's meal with sleeping pills, and once he lost consciousness, Sahil stabbed him three times in the chest. Working together, the two dismembered Saurabh's body into 15 parts, stuffed the remains inside a plastic drum, and poured cement over them to conceal the deed.\n\nInvestigating officials subsequently arrested both individuals. Nearly 19 months after the horrific occurrence, the house in Brahmpuri where the homicide took place remains locked and abandoned. Property owner Ompal Singh revealed that the premises have found neither tenants nor buyers since that day, with neighborhood residents still referring to the structure as the murder house.\n\nStigma Stalls Property Deals Ahead of Final Sentencing Date\nA similar stigma hovers over the residence of Muskan's father Pramod Rastogi, situated roughly 200 meters away from the primary scene of the crime. The family has attempted to sell the house, yet prospective purchasers have steered completely clear of the deal. With the legal timeline winding down, public and legal attention remains intensely focused on October 14, when the court will deliver its final sentencing order for both convicts.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis case demonstrates the rigorous legal response to heinous crimes while underlining the severe societal fallout of toxic domestic relations.\n\n• Across India: The ruling reinforces faith in judicial mechanisms and meticulous forensic evidence during complex criminal trials. A decisive court stance reassures citizens that perpetrators of calculated violence will face uncompromising accountability.\n• In Meerut: The lasting stigma attached to the properties involved in Brahmpuri continues to severely depress neighborhood real estate and rental prospects. Residents remain sensitive to the psychological shockwaves and local policing safeguards left in the wake of the crime.\n• For families: The tragedy emphasizes the critical necessity of addressing deep marital conflicts before they spiral into destructive actions. Professional counseling and legal dispute resolution mechanisms offer vital avenues to prevent catastrophic domestic outcomes.\n• For child welfare: The situation of young children residing with incarcerated parents highlights the urgent need for structured rehabilitation safeguards. Child protection agencies must ensure adequate educational and emotional support for minors caught in criminal crises.\n\nWhy this happened\nThis horrifying crime stemmed from an illicit romantic affair, premeditated conspiracy, and a calculated effort to eliminate a spouse who was seen as an obstacle. Police investigation and judicial records brought the entire plot to light.\n\n• Premeditated conspiracy: Merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput's wife Muskan and her partner Sahil Shukla conspired to murder him to clear the way for their relationship. On March 4, 2025, Muskan administered sedatives in Saurabh's meal before Sahil inflicted fatal stab wounds to his chest.\n• Efforts to destroy evidence: In a bid to hide the crime, the duo chopped the victim's body into 15 pieces and sealed them inside a plastic drum filled with cement. They calculated that encasing the remains would contain the odor and permanently prevent police discovery.\n• Forensic discovery and arrest: Investigators connected critical leads, recovered the sealed drum, and gathered conclusive material evidence linking both suspects to the scene. The presentation of these comprehensive records in court left no doubt about their collective guilt.\n• Sentencing phase: Following the conviction on murder charges, the court granted both sides a 15-day window to argue on the sentence, setting October 14 as the date for final pronouncement.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What is the Meerut blue drum murder case?\nIt involves the homicide of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, whose body was dismembered into 15 pieces and concealed in a cement-filled plastic drum by his wife Muskan and her partner Sahil.\n\n2. When did the court convict Muskan and Sahil?\nThe court officially convicted both individuals on Wednesday after establishing their collective involvement through evidence on record.\n\n3. When will the court deliver the sentencing order?\nThe court has scheduled the announcement of the sentence for October 14, granting both sides 15 days to present arguments on punishment.\n\n4. How have the convicts reacted inside prison after the verdict?\nFearing the death penalty, both skipped meals and Sahil broke down in tears, prompting jail authorities to organize psychological counseling sessions.\n\n5. What demands have the victim's family members made?\nSaurabh's mother Renu Devi and brother Rahul have expressed trust in the judicial system while urging capital punishment for both convicts.\n\n6. When was the murder committed?\nThe murder took place on March 4, 2025, after Saurabh was drugged with sleeping pills and fatally stabbed in the chest.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/uttar-pradesh/meratha-ke-charchita-hatyakanda-men-doshi-muskan-aura-sahil-ko-sataya-mauta-ki-saja-ka-khaupha-karagara-men-ro-pare-donon-41443",
  "category": "Uttar Pradesh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-01",
  "tags": [
    "Meerut murder case",
    "Blue drum case",
    "Muskan Rastogi",
    "Sahil Shukla",
    "Saurabh Rajput",
    "Court verdict",
    "Crime news"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}