Deoria Durga Pandal Recreates Horrific Blue Drum Murder Case as Cautionary Exhibition

The blue drum has become the central feature of the pandal in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district.

A Durga puja pandal in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, has drawn significant attention for its unconventional exhibition depicting the gruesome murder case from Meerut where a man's body was disposed of in a blue drum. The pandal, organized by Maa Shakti Club on Station Road in Deoria city, showcases the murdered husband's body inside a blue drum, with his wife and her lover positioned nearby.

The installation has become increasingly popular as prasad is being distributed through an automated machine, attracting large crowds eager to view this unusual display.

Pradeep Kumar Chaurasia, who serves as president of Maa Shakti Club, revealed the intention behind this thought-provoking installation. He explained that the blue drum representation aims to increase public awareness and emphasize the dire consequences of extramarital affairs. The display carries a moral message encouraging people to maintain fidelity and honesty in their relationships.

The infamous Blue Drum Murder Case occurred earlier in March when Saurabh Rajput, who had recently returned from London, was allegedly murdered by his wife Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla.

Saurabh, who married Muskan in 2016 and lived with her and their six-year-old daughter, was last seen alive on March 4, 2025, the day of the alleged murder.

According to investigators, Muskan sedated Saurabh before inviting Sahil to their residence, where they stabbed him to death. They subsequently dismembered his body, placed it inside a large plastic drum filled with cement and sand, and concealed it within their house. Reports indicate that Muskan even vacationed with Sahil following the murder.

Strikingly, Saurabh Rajput's young daughter repeatedly told neighbors that her father was in the drum, suggesting she might have been aware of what had transpired.

The crime was eventually uncovered when Muskan's mother contacted police, revealing that her daughter had confessed to killing Saurabh. After authorities arrested Muskan and Sahil, they led police to the drum. Due to the hardened cement inside, the container couldn't be opened conventionally and had to be cut open at a mortuary to recover Saurabh's remains.