Stories
Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra: Muskan and Sahil convicted in Saurabh Rajput murder case.
- •Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla have been convicted in Meerut's Saurabh Rajput 'Blue Drum' murder case.
- •Meerut District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra's court pronounced the verdict in this case on September 30, 2026.
- •Arvind Kumar Mishra-II was born on July 2, 1971, and joined judicial service in 2003.
- •He has served in various locations including Ghazipur, Sultanpur, Aligarh, Gorakhpur, and Kanpur.
- •Since May 2026, he has been serving as the District and Sessions Judge of Meerut.
Key Questions Answered
Arvind Kumar Mishra-II was born on July 2, 1971, in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, and joined judicial service in May 2003 as an Additional Civil Judge. Over his career, he served in various capacities across Ghazipur, Sultanpur, Aligarh, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, and Basti, and also worked on deputation as Special Secretary and Additional Legal Advisor to the UP government. Before becoming the District and Sessions Judge of Meerut in May 2026, he served as Chairman of the State Transport Appellate Tribunal and District Judge in Mirzapur.
The high-profile murder case involves Saurabh Rajput, whose body parts were found concealed inside a blue plastic drum filled with cement in March 2025. Police filed a nearly 1,000-page chargesheet in May 2025 accusing Rajput's wife, Muskan Rastogi, and her lover, Sahil Shukla, of the murder and destruction of evidence. Following a trial spanning about 13 months with 126 hearings and statements from over 22 witnesses, the Meerut court found both accused guilty.
Meerut District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra convicted Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla on September 30, 2026, and scheduled the final decision regarding their punishment for October 14, 2026. During the sentencing arguments, the prosecution may seek the death penalty, while the defense is expected to push for the minimum possible sentence.
