Mother of Saurabh Rajput confronted the accused in the “blue drum” murder case outside a Meerut court, expressing her grief and demanding the death penalty.
MEERUT: Chaotic scenes unfolded outside a district court in Meerut on Tuesday as the mother of Saurabh Rajput broke down while confronting the accused in the “blue drum” murder case.“Wo Rs 50,000 deta tha, fir bhi maar diya (He gave her Rs 50,000 every month. Still, they killed him)” cried Renu Devi, as her voice rang out in grief when the accused, Rajput’s wife Muskan Rastogi and her alleged lover Sahil Shukla, were brought to court under tight security.Rajput, a former Merchant Navy officer, was murdered on March 4, 2025. Police said the accused stabbed him, dismembered the body, and sealed it inside a cement-filled blue drum, an act that drew nationwide outrage for its brutality.
Court proceedings under tight security
The two accused were produced before a district court from Chaudhary Charan Singh District Jail and remained present for around 45 minutes during the hearing. Officials said Sahil was brought into the courtroom first and questioned for about 20 minutes, followed by Muskan, who was examined for around 15 minutes.Muskan, wearing a black mask, was seen carrying her daughter as she exited the police vehicle and entered the court premises.
The trial is being conducted in the court of District and Sessions Judge Anupam Kumar. According to district government counsel Krishna Kumar Chaube, statements of 22 witnesses have been recorded so far, and the process of examining the accused is currently underway.
Family’s grief spills into public
As the accused were brought in, Rajput’s mother and brother Rahul were present at the court. Overcome with emotion, Renu Devi repeatedly demanded the death penalty for the accused, saying the family has been shattered since the killing.Her cries echoed across the court premises as she confronted the accused, underscoring the deep personal loss behind the high-profile case.
Case background
The case was registered at Brahmpuri Police Station. Police later filed a chargesheet against Muskan and Sahil after completing the investigation.According to investigators, the murder was carried out inside the couple’s home, after which the body was mutilated and hidden in a drum in an attempt to destroy evidence.
