After waiting for more than a year, Saurabh Rajput’s family finally got a verdict on Wednesday when a Meerut court found his wife, Muskan Rastogi, and Sahil Shukla guilty of his murder in the “blue drum” case. After the judgement, Saurabh’s mother, Renu, asked the question that has troubled her since his death: “Why did she kill my son?” But the verdict could not take away the family’s pain.
The verdict came after a trial lasting around 13 months, with 126 hearings and testimony from 22 witnesses. Meerut District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra convicted Muskan and Sahil of murdering Saurabh and concealing evidence.
Saurabh’s family wants death penalty
Reports say the quantum of the sentence is expected to be taken up on October 14.
Government counsel Krishna Kumar Chaubey said the court found both guilty of murder and attempting to conceal evidence, including Saurabh’s body and the murder weapon. The least they get should be a death sentence,” Rahul said. He said the family would consider approaching a higher court depending on the sentence. “If the accused is awarded anything less than the death sentence, we will approach the High Court or the Supreme Court,” he said.
The case now moves to sentencing. The prosecution is seeking the maximum punishment, while Saurabh’s family has demanded the death penalty. “Since the beginning of this case, we have been hoping to get justice. We have just demanded one thing: whatever they did to my brother, the same should happen to them.
