Blue drum murder: Allahabad HC sets Nov 30 hearing for Muskan, Sahil's appeals

A division bench of Justice Salil Kumar Rai and Justice Padam Narayan Mishra heard the appeals on Tuesday. The two convicts have challenged the Meerut trial court's verdict sentencing them to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput.Allahbad High Court has admitted appeals filed by Muskan and SahilThe Allahabad High Court has admitted appeals filed by Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla challenging their conviction and death sentences in the Meerut blue drum murder case, and scheduled the next hearing for November 30.A division bench of Justice Salil Kumar Rai and Justice Padam Narayan Mishra heard the appeals on Tuesday. The two convicts have challenged the Meerut trial court's verdict sentencing them to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput.The court accepted the appeals and fixed November 30 for the next hearing, considering the sensitivity of the case.Meanwhile, questions remain over the future custody of Muskan's daughter. Meerut jail senior superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma said Muskan's wishes would be important in deciding whom the child should be handed over to. "If Sahil's family wants to take responsibility for raising the girl, it will have to submit an application to the jail administration. The request will then be placed before Muskan, and further steps will be taken based on her wishes," Sharma said.Sharma also added that a social media influencer from Mumbai had earlier offered to bear the expenses of raising Muskan's daughter, but Muskan declined the offer. The fact that both convicts have approached the High Court through the same lawyer has also prompted speculation about whether Sahil's family has accepted Muskan. Muskan had sought legal representation through the jail administration, while Sahil's family appointed a lawyer to challenge his death sentence. The same lawyer subsequently filed an appeal on Muskan's behalf.However, Sharma said he could not comment on whether Sahil's family had accepted Muskan.During the trial, Muskan and Sahil were represented by separate lawyers. Muskan was provided a government lawyer, Rekha Jain, at her request after her family distanced itself from her. Sahil, meanwhile, was represented by a lawyer appointed by his family.The case concerns the murder of Saurabh Rajput, Muskan's husband. According to the prosecution, his dismembered remains were concealed in a blue drum filled with cement. A Meerut trial court convicted Muskan and Sahil and sentenced both to death on October 14, 2026. They have now challenged the conviction and sentence before the Allahabad High Court, which will take up the matter next on November 30.- Ends