Meerut court convicts wife, partner in Saurabh Rajput murder case; mother seeks death penalty

The mother of slain merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput on Wednesday demanded the death penalty for his wife Muskan Rastogi and her partner Sahil Shukla after a Meerut court convicted the two of murdering her son and attempting to conceal his body.

Saurabh's mother Renu Rajput, who broke down while speaking about her son, told reporters that she wanted both convicts to be sentenced to death.

She said the court had convicted the two and was expected to pronounce the sentence after a few days. "We have not been told yet what punishment they will get," she said.

Renu said the family had remained "depressed and troubled" since the incident. When asked about the last time she spoke to Saurabh, she became emotional and said her son had always remained in her thoughts.

She said that if she ever got an opportunity to speak to Muskan, she would ask why she killed Saurabh. Renu added that Muskan could have simply told her son if she no longer wanted to continue the marriage.

Saurabh's paternal aunt Kusum, who accompanied his mother and brother to the court, also sought the death penalty for Muskan and Sahil.

Saurabh's brother Rahul supported the demand, saying such punishment could potentially deter similar incidents.

A Meerut district court on Wednesday convicted Muskan and Sahil of murdering Saurabh and attempting to conceal his body. The court will consider their submissions on the quantum of sentence before passing the final punishment order after 15 days.

The case relates to Saurabh's death in March 2025. According to the prosecution, Muskan and Sahil killed him, dismembered his body and concealed the remains in a blue drum filled with cement. The case attracted widespread attention.

The trial concluded after 126 hearings, during which the prosecution examined 22 witnesses.  (with inputs from PTI)