A woman and her boyfriend have been sentenced to death for the murder of her husband in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Muskan Rastogi, 26, and Sahil Shukla, 28, were convicted on 30 September by a court in Meerut city for the 2025 murder of her husband Saurabh Rajput. Rajput's body was recovered from a large blue plastic storage container—locally called a drum—leading to the case being dubbed as "the blue drum murder."
Court Sentencing
Wednesday's death sentences must be confirmed by the high court. Rastogi and Shukla have the option to challenge the verdict.
Background of the Case
The prosecution stated in court that Rastogi and Shukla had been classmates in school and had grown close in the absence of Rajput, who worked in London. When Rajput first learned of their affair in 2021, he wanted a divorce, but was persuaded against it by his family due to their young daughter.
