The future of 10-month-old Radha, who has lived with her mother in a jail since birth, remains uncertain after a Meerut court sentenced Muskan Rastogi to death for murdering her husband, merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, in the sensational ‘ blue drum’ case .
Muskan also has a seven-year-old daughter, Pihu, who is believed to be living separately with Muskan’s parents. Radha has been staying with Muskan at the Meerut district jail since she was born. Under jail rules, children are allowed to stay with their incarcerated mothers until the age of six.
Radha’s living arrangements would not change immediately following the death sentence, as the punishment would not be carried out at once, jail authorities told news agency PTI.
However, no DNA test is known to have been conducted so far. With both Muskan and Sahil sentenced to death, responsibility for Radha’s long-term care remains unresolved. For now, she will continue to live with her mother in jail as the legal process moves to the appellate stage.
Saurabh’s elder brother had said the family would accept the child if it was established that she was Saurabh’s daughter.
Radha’s paternity had earlier come under scrutiny, with Saurabh’s family seeking a DNA test.
Senior Jail Superintendent Dr Viresh Raj Sharma told PTI that the legal process following the death sentence would take time, with the convicts having several avenues of appeal.
