Meerut: Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, who were sentenced to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput in the widely reported ‘blue drum’ case, have approached the Allahabad High Court challenging their conviction and sentence.

The two convicts have filed criminal appeals seeking to overturn the Meerut District and Sessions Court’s verdict, which found them guilty on September 30, 2026, and sentenced them to death on October 14. The appeals contend that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the trial court relied on speculation while assessing the evidence.

A division bench of the Allahabad High Court is expected to take up the matter next week, according to reports published on October 24 and 25. The appeals mark the next stage in the legal proceedings following the trial court’s decision.

The case attracted widespread public attention after Rajput’s remains were discovered inside a blue plastic drum containing cement at a house in Meerut’s Brahmpuri area in March 2025.

Convicts seek quashing of trial court verdict

In their appeals, Muskan and Sahil have described the trial court’s decision as illegal and arbitrary. They have asked the high court to set aside both their convictions and death sentences and acquit them of all charges under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Their principal argument is that the prosecution’s case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence. They contend that the trial court drew conclusions on the basis of speculation and conjecture instead of applying established legal principles to the evidence presented during the trial.

The appeals argue that the prosecution did not establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The high court will have to examine the grounds raised by the appellants, along with the trial court’s findings and the evidence on record.

The filing of the appeals does not, by itself, overturn the convictions or sentences. The high court’s consideration of the case will determine the next steps in the legal process.

Death sentence imposed on October 14

The Meerut District and Sessions Court sentenced Muskan and Sahil to death on October 14, following their conviction on September 30.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each convict. Both were convicted in connection with Rajput’s murder and offences relating to the concealment of evidence.

The verdict followed a trial that lasted around 13 months and involved 126 hearings. The prosecution presented witnesses and material intended to establish the sequence of events surrounding Rajput’s death and the subsequent concealment of his remains.

The death sentences represent the trial court’s punishment, but they cannot be carried out solely on the basis of the sessions court’s order. A death sentence passed by a trial court must undergo confirmation by the high court under the applicable criminal procedure.

The high court will therefore consider the legal issues raised in the convicts’ appeals as part of the process governing the case.

What is the Meerut blue drum murder case?

The case concerns the killing of Saurabh Rajput, a former merchant navy officer, in Meerut in March 2025.

According to the prosecution’s account, Rajput was killed on March 3, 2025. His body was allegedly dismembered and placed inside a blue plastic drum, which was filled with cement in an attempt to conceal the remains.

The case came to light after the remains were recovered from the couple’s house in the Brahmpuri police station area. The discovery triggered widespread attention and led to an investigation into the circumstances of Rajput’s death.

Muskan Rastogi was Rajput’s wife, while Sahil Shukla was her partner, according to reports on the case. The prosecution alleged that the two planned the killing and subsequently attempted to hide the evidence.

The allegations were examined during the trial, which culminated in the September 30 convictions and the October 14 death sentences. Muskan and Sahil are now challenging those findings before the Allahabad High Court.

Prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence

The defence’s appeal places particular emphasis on the nature of the evidence presented during the trial.

According to the appellants, the case was based on circumstantial evidence rather than direct evidence of the killing. They have argued that the trial court failed to properly apply the legal standards governing cases that rely on a chain of circumstances.

In such cases, courts assess whether the individual circumstances relied upon by the prosecution have been established and whether, taken together, they support the conclusion required for a conviction. The defence’s challenge is that the trial court’s conclusions did not meet the necessary standard of proof.

The prosecution, meanwhile, presented evidence and witness testimony during the trial to support its case. Reports on the proceedings said investigators examined 22 witnesses, including people connected with the purchase of items allegedly used in the crime, as well as hotel staff and cab drivers whose accounts were intended to establish the movements of the accused.

The high court will have to examine the grounds of appeal against the findings recorded by the trial court. The defence’s arguments remain contentions in the appeal and have not yet been accepted by the high court.

High court proceedings to determine next stage

The criminal appeals are expected to come before a division bench of the Allahabad High Court next week, according to reports. The court will consider the challenge to the convictions and sentences in accordance with the applicable legal process.

The death sentences also require separate confirmation by the high court. This judicial review is an essential safeguard in capital cases, allowing the higher court to scrutinise the trial court’s findings and the punishment imposed.

The appeals seek complete relief for Muskan and Sahil, including the setting aside of their convictions and acquittal on all charges. The outcome will depend on the court’s assessment of the evidence, the trial court’s reasoning and the legal arguments advanced by both sides.

For now, the convictions and sentences remain the decisions of the trial court under challenge. The Allahabad High Court’s proceedings will determine whether those decisions are upheld, modified or set aside.