An Indian 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 September 30 by a court in Meerut for the 2025 murder of Rastogi’s husband, Saurabh Rajput.
The case became known as the “blue drum murder” after Rajput’s body was discovered inside a large blue plastic storage container.
The death sentences, handed down on Wednesday, are subject to confirmation by the High Court. The pair also have the right to challenge the verdict.
Prosecutors told the court that Rastogi and Shukla were former schoolmates who grew closer while Rajput was working in London.
Rajput reportedly discovered their affair in 2021 and considered divorcing his wife. However, his family persuaded him against the decision because the couple had a young daughter.
Rajput was murdered on March 3, 2025, while visiting Meerut. Police said Rastogi allegedly gave him food laced with sedatives before he was killed.
The pair then allegedly fled to Himachal Pradesh, using Rajput’s mobile phone to send messages to his family in an attempt to make it appear that he was still alive and travelling for business.
Several days later, Rajput’s family reported him missing to police.
On March 17, after Rastogi returned from Himachal Pradesh and visited her parents, her six-year-old daughter reportedly asked about her father.
Rastogi initially blamed her in-laws for the murder. However, her family remained unconvinced and took her to a police station.
She subsequently confessed during questioning, leading to the arrest of both Rastogi and Shukla.
Speaking to BBC Hindi, Rajput’s brother said his sibling had been killed by cruel people.
Rastogi’s parents also called for strict action against their daughter.
Her father told ANI news agency that she and Shukla had murdered her husband in their own home, describing her as a danger to society.
Rastogi gave birth to a second child while in prison.
Based on reporting by BBC News