‘Blue Drum’ Accused Muskan Shifts to Meerut Jail Barrack with Newborn Daughter

November 28, 2025: Muskan Rastogi, the undertrial accused in the sensational ‘Blue Drum’ murder case, has been moved to Barrack 12A of Meerut District Jail, accompanied by her newborn baby girl. The mother and child were discharged from Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College earlier this week and are reported to be healthy. The infant, named Radha by Muskan, will spend the first six years of her life inside the prison’s women’s barracks, adhering to jail regulations.

The Blue Drum Case: A Brief Recap

Muskan Rastogi is accused of the brutal murder of her husband, former merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, in March. Allegedly with the help of her lover, Sahil Shukla (a co-accused), she is said to have drugged, stabbed, and then dismembered Saurabh’s body, which was later found concealed inside a cement-filled blue drum at their Meerut home. The investigation revealed that the murder was allegedly premeditated, stemming from her relationship with Sahil, whom Saurabh was seen as an obstacle to. Both Muskan and Sahil were arrested shortly after the crime came to light. The murder case is currently in the evidence-recording stage in court.

🏡 Life for the Newborn in Jail

Jail authorities have confirmed that arrangements have been made to ensure the baby’s well-being. Radha will receive basic facilities, including clothing, supplementary nutrition, and medical care, all managed by the prison administration. Senior Jail Superintendent Dr. Viresh Raj Sharma stated that the child is permitted to stay with her mother until the age of six, a provision under prison rules for children of female inmates.

Further provisions include:

• Medical Care: Radha will receive her vaccinations from the prison premises.
• Childcare: The child will be registered with the jail’s Anganwadi and creche facilities.
• Education: Once Radha turns three, she may be enrolled in a pre-school programme that allows for supervised visits outside the jail premises.
• Future Custody: When the child reaches the age of six, a court will step in to decide her custody, determining if she should be handed over to relatives or placed under state care.

The jail administration has also assigned Muskan light labour instead of regular jail duties in the coming months, allowing her to focus on caring for the newborn.

Paternity Dispute and Family Tensions

The birth has reignited tensions with Saurabh Rajput’s family, who have demanded a DNA test to confirm the baby’s paternity. Saurabh’s brother, Rahul, stated that the family would only accept responsibility for the newborn, and also Muskan’s elder daughter, if DNA results prove them to be Saurabh’s biological children.

The family’s demand is rooted in the fact that Muskan was approximately one-and-a-half months pregnant at the time of her arrest alongside co-accused Sahil Shukla. Currently, officials confirm that no formal DNA sampling request has been made before the court. Adding to the emotional complexity, reports indicate that no relatives from either Muskan’s family or the deceased husband’s family have visited the newborn in the hospital or jail.

The case continues to be watched closely as the legal proceedings advance, and the fate of the newborn child within the confines of the judicial system remains a central point of public and legal discussion.