Blue drum case: Future of Muskan's 10-month-old daughter hangs in the balance

MEERUT: The future of 10-month-old Radha remains uncertain after her mother, Muskan Rastogi, was sentenced to death on Wednesday for murdering her husband, merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, in the Meerut ‘blue drum’ case.However, jail authorities said the infant would continue living with her mother for now, as the sentence would not be carried out immediately.Radha has been staying with Muskan at Meerut district jail since her birth. Under prison rules, children can remain with their incarcerated mothers until they turn six.Muskan’s elder daughter, seven-year-old Pihu, is believed to be living separately with her maternal grandparents.Senior Jail Superintendent Dr Viresh Raj Sharma said the death sentence would not immediately affect Radha’s living arrangements, as the legal process would take time.“The convicts have the option of appealing before the high court and the Supreme Court, followed by filing mercy petitions before the governor and the president,” Sharma said.He added that a decision on Radha’s future would be taken once an execution date was fixed.Radha was born on November 24 last year at a medical college in Meerut and was taken back to the district jail with Muskan after delivery. At the time, jail officials said both mother and child were healthy and that the infant would receive medical care, nutrition and other necessities.According to Sharma, Muskan has expressed concern about what would happen to her younger daughter. She had also been seeking permission to meet Pihu for the past three to four days, but the meeting had not taken place by the time the sentence was pronounced.The jail administration is yet to decide whether Muskan and her partner, Sahil Shukla, will remain in Meerut jail or be shifted to another prison. Sharma said the decision would be taken after officials receive the detailed court order.Questions remain over Radha’s paternityRadha’s future has also been linked to questions about her paternity. Saurabh’s family had sought a DNA test, with his elder brother saying they would accept the child if it was established that she was Saurabh’s daughter. However, there is no known record of a DNA test being conducted so far.With Muskan and Sahil sentenced to death, responsibility for Radha’s long-term care remains unresolved. For now, she will continue to stay with her mother in jail while the case moves through the appeals process.Muskan and Sahil were convicted on September 30 of killing Saurabh on March 3, 2025, dismembering his body and concealing the remains in a blue drum filled with cement. The crime came to light about a fortnight later, when the remains were discovered at the couple’s house.The court delivered the death sentence after a 13-month trial involving 126 hearings.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Meerut | Silver Rate in Meerut | Bank Holidays in Meerut | Public Holidays in Meerut | Meerut AQI | Weather in Meerut | Petrol Price in Meerut | Diesel Price in Meerut | CNG Price in Meerut | LPG Price in MeerutStay updated with the latest Meerut news. Download the TOI App.