Meerut ‘Blue Drum’ Murder Case: Muskan, Sahil Challenge Death Sentence in Allahabad High Court

Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, the two convicts sentenced to death in the Saurabh Rajput murder case in Meerut, have approached the Allahabad High Court challenging their conviction and the death sentence awarded by the trial court.

The duo has filed criminal appeals seeking the quashing of the Meerut District and Sessions Court’s verdict, which convicted them on September 30 and sentenced them to death on October 14, 2026. A division bench of the High Court is likely to hear the matter next week.

The case, widely known as the ‘Blue Drum’ murder case, relates to the killing of Saurabh Rajput in the Brahmpuri police station area of Meerut. The incident triggered widespread outrage after Rajput’s body was found concealed in a blue plastic drum filled with cement and concrete.

On October 14, the trial court sentenced both convicts to death and imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on each. They were also convicted of offences related to causing the disappearance of evidence.

In their appeals, Muskan and Sahil described the trial court’s verdict as illegal and arbitrary. They have sought the setting aside of their conviction and sentence, along with acquittal from all charges under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The appellants contended that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. They argued that the case was based entirely on circumstantial evidence and that the trial court had reached its conclusions on the basis of speculation and conjecture, allegedly overlooking established legal principles.