In a harrowing case that has shocked the nation, Muskan Rastogi, aged 26, and her lover Sahil Shukla, 28, have been sentenced to death for the brutal murder of Rastogi’s husband, Saurabh Rajput, in 2025. The incident, which garnered significant media attention, is known as the “blue drum murder” due to the gruesome details surrounding the crime.
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On October 14, 2025, the court handed down the death sentences after both individuals were found guilty of killing Rajput, a 35-year-old former merchant navy officer. The ruling brought an emotional response from the accused, who reportedly wept uncontrollably in the courtroom. Rajput’s brother expressed his grief, stating, “My brother was killed by cruel people.”
Rastogi and Rajput married in 2016 when she was just 16 or 17 years old. Their relationship took a turn for the worse in 2021 when Rastogi began an affair with Shukla while Rajput was working in London. Upon discovering the affair, Rajput contemplated divorce, but his family urged him against it, especially considering the couple’s daughter, who was six years old at the time.
The case took a sinister turn on March 4, 2025, when Rajput returned to their home in Meerut. Reports indicate that Rastogi and Shukla had prepared for the crime by sedating Rajput before fatally stabbing him. Following the murder, the pair dismembered his body, placing the remains into a blue plastic container filled with liquid cement in an attempt to conceal the evidence.
Fifteen days passed before the gruesome discovery was made, following a tip-off to police about a foul smell emanating from the couple’s residence. Police officials reported that the remains were located in the container, leading to the immediate arrest of Rastogi and Shukla on March 18, 2025. Rastogi’s confession to her mother, who subsequently reported the incident to the authorities, played a crucial role in their apprehension.
According to police, the plan to murder Rajput was premeditated, with discussions about the crime commencing as far back as November 2023. SP City Ayush Vikram Singh, who handled the case, indicated that this was not an impulsive act but rather a calculated decision by the pair to eliminate Rajput.
Rastogi’s mother, Kavita, expressed her devastation over the loss of her son-in-law, underscoring the complexities of the relationships involved. She remarked that Rajput was devoted to her daughter, stating, “Saurabh was mad for my daughter. He left his family just to marry her … He was like my son.”
As the public grapples with the horrific nature of this crime, the legal ramifications serve as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of such acts of violence. The case has sparked discussions across India regarding domestic violence, infidelity, and the safeguarding of familial structures in society.
Both Rastogi and Shukla are expected to appeal the verdict, and as the case develops, it will likely continue to capture the public’s attention. The shocking nature of this domestic tragedy leaves many questioning the dynamics that can lead individuals down such a dark path.