A court in Meerut has sentenced Muskaan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput, Muskaan’s husband and a former Merchant Navy officer. The sentencing was pronounced on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after the court convicted the two in the case widely known as the Meerut blue drum murder.

The case involved the killing of Rajput in March 2025 and the concealment of his dismembered remains inside a blue plastic drum sealed with cement and sand.

The two were convicted on September 30. The prosecution had sought the death penalty, arguing for the maximum punishment in the case.

Court verdict follows 126 hearings

The trial involved 126 hearings and statements from 22 prosecution witnesses. District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra delivered the sentence after the court considered the evidence presented during the proceedings.

The investigation and prosecution relied on a combination of circumstantial, technical and physical evidence. This included forensic findings, witness testimony and material recovered during the investigation.

The case drew attention after police discovered Rajput’s remains inside the cement-filled drum at the couple’s residence in Meerut.

How Saurabh Rajput was killed

According to the prosecution’s account of the case, Rajput was killed in March 2025 after he returned to Meerut from London. Investigators alleged that Muskaan and Sahil had planned the murder.

The prosecution said Rajput was given food laced with sleeping medication before he was attacked. His body was subsequently dismembered, and the remains were placed inside a blue plastic drum.

The drum was filled with a mixture containing cement and sand and sealed. Investigators later recovered the remains from inside it.

Evidence presented during the investigation

Investigators built the case using several strands of evidence. Shopkeepers provided testimony about the purchase of materials, including a blue drum, cement, sand and cutting implements, before the murder.

Call detail records and mobile tower information were also cited to establish Sahil’s presence at the residence around the time of the crime. The prosecution further relied on post-mortem findings that confirmed Rajput had died from stab injuries.

The investigation also traced the movements of Muskaan and Sahil during their trip to Himachal Pradesh following the killing. Investigators said photographs and activity linked to Rajput’s phone were used to create the impression that he was still alive.

The case came to light in March 2025

The murder came to light after questions arose over Rajput’s whereabouts. According to the investigation, the couple’s attempt to move the heavy drum eventually raised suspicion.

Rajput’s family approached the police, leading to an investigation that uncovered the remains. Muskaan and Sahil were arrested in March 2025.

The sentencing on October 14 marks a major development in the case, which had proceeded from the discovery of Rajput’s remains to a trial involving dozens of witness statements and more than a hundred hearings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, October 13, as the two countries seek to strengthen bilateral relations and translate renewed diplomatic engagement into concrete outcomes.

Following the conversation, Modi said both leaders had agreed to build on the positive momentum in India-Canada ties and work towards progress across key areas of their strategic partnership.

In a post on X, the prime minister described the conversation as “warm and productive”. He identified trade, energy, technology, security and people-to-people ties as important areas for further cooperation.

Modi also said India and Canada were contributing towards a more stable and prosperous world.

India and Canada focus on trade and strategic cooperation

The latest conversation comes amid increased engagement between New Delhi and Ottawa across economic, security and diplomatic matters.

According to the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders welcomed the expansion of engagement over the past year, including cooperation in finance, defence and security, people-to-people ties and artificial intelligence.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to concluding negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the earliest opportunity. The proposed agreement is intended to support efforts to double two-way trade between India and Canada by 2030.

The leaders welcomed the ongoing Team Canada Trade Mission in India, led by Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, along with the visit of Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand to New Delhi.

The engagements are aimed at advancing shared priorities, including trade, energy and people-to-people ties.

Security cooperation remains on the agenda

The conversation followed a bilateral security dialogue held in India the previous week as part of ongoing engagement between the two countries on security and law enforcement.

The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders welcomed the bilateral security dialogue held in India the previous week as part of ongoing security and law enforcement engagement at the National Security Advisor level. They also agreed to remain in close contact ahead of Modi’s planned visit to Canada in December.

The Canadian readout also said the two prime ministers discussed the effects of geopolitical instability on the Indo-Pacific region and the need for trusted partners in energy and agriculture.

Carney thanked Modi for his leadership in seeking a peaceful resolution to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

India-Canada relations seek to move beyond diplomatic tensions

Relations between India and Canada deteriorated sharply in 2023 after then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a potential Indian link to the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

India rejected the accusation as absurd. In October 2024, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the Nijjar case. New Delhi also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats.

Relations have since shown signs of improvement through renewed diplomatic engagement and cooperation in several areas. Both countries now have high commissioners posted in each other’s capitals.

Canadian Prime Minister Carney’s visit to India in March 2026 also contributed to renewed efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.

The latest conversation between Modi and Carney reflects the two governments’ stated intention to build on this progress, with trade negotiations, security cooperation and other shared priorities remaining central to their engagement.

Modi’s planned visit to Canada in December is expected to provide another opportunity for the two sides to advance their bilateral agenda.

Three leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) — Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde — have been placed under preventive arrest in connection with a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The three were detained early Tuesday after crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which was recently removed from the list of designated protest venues. A case was registered against them over their alleged actions.

According to the police case, the charges include trespassing, violation of a bond, and obstructing a public official from performing official duties.

The three leaders were produced before a Special Court of the Executive Magistrate on Wednesday and could be sent to judicial custody at Tihar Jail.

Why CJP leaders protested at Jantar Mantar

The protest comes amid demonstrations by the CJP and opposition groups over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protesters were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The controversy centres on allegations concerning the electoral roll revision exercise, which the Election Commission and the BJP have denied.

Jantar Mantar was recently removed from the list of designated protest venues in Delhi. The change followed an order naming alternative locations for demonstrations, prompting criticism from groups that want to hold protests at the established site.

CJP legal team raises concerns over detention

Ratna Singh, head of the CJP legal team, said in a post on X that Delhi Police had arrested Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde at Parliament Street Police Station in connection with the Jantar Mantar case.

Singh alleged that the three were brought to the police station in a private van at around 3 am and were not allowed to meet their lawyers until late at night.

She also raised concerns about the legal process and the possibility of the leaders being sent to judicial custody.

The allegations regarding access to legal counsel were made by the CJP legal team and should be distinguished from the charges registered by the police.

The arrests mark another development in the ongoing dispute over protests at Jantar Mantar and the CJP’s campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner over the SIR exercise.