Daijiworld Media Network - Meerut

Meerut, Oct 14: The family of former Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput on Wednesday welcomed the death sentence awarded to his wife Muskan and her lover Sahil Shukla by a district court for his murder, describing the verdict as justice delivered.

The district judge awarded capital punishment to the duo, categorising the case as one of the “rarest of the rare”.

Saurabh’s mother, Renu Devi, expressed satisfaction with the verdict while speaking to the press. “We are completely satisfied with the court’s decision,” she said.

“Today, the court has merely pronounced the death sentence. The day the date for their execution is fixed will be the true day of happiness for us,” she added.

Saurabh’s brother Rahul also welcomed the verdict, saying the family had received justice. “We are fully satisfied with the court’s verdict. We have received justice. Our demand to the court was for Muskan and Sahil to be sentenced to death. That demand has been met, and we are now completely satisfied,” he said.

Vijay Bahadur, the lawyer representing Saurabh’s family, said the court had delivered justice and that the verdict would send a strong message to society while instilling fear among criminals.

The case had attracted nationwide attention after Saurabh’s body was discovered stuffed inside a blue plastic drum. He was murdered by his wife and her lover, who dismembered his body and concealed the remains inside the drum. The container was subsequently filled with sand and cement in an attempt to dispose of the body and conceal the crime.

Meanwhile, the court’s announcement of the death sentence triggered celebrations at the district court complex. Lawyers distributed sweets outside the court and said the punishment was commensurate with the gravity of the crime.