{
  "id": 10966216,
  "title": "Muskan, Sahil guilty in Saurabh Rajput murder case; sentencing hearing to follow",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/muskan-sahil-guilty-in-saurabh-rajput-murder-case-sentencing-hearing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T14:50:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uttar-pradesh/muskan-sahil-guilty-in-saurabh-rajput-murder-case-sentencing-hearing-to-follow/article71529358.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Meerut district court has convicted Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla for the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, reports government counsel Krishna Kumar Chaubey. The trial concluded after 13 months and 126 hearings, with the court announcing its sentence order in 15 days. The judge, Arvind Mishra, cited a Supreme Court order advocating for stringent punishment in serious crime cases to reinforce the rule of law. Muskan and Sahil participated in the virtual hearing from their respective jails. The court will hear their plea for the sentence before delivering the final verdict. The prosecution sought the maximum punishment, citing the brutality of the crime and the evidence presented. The case revolved around the March 2025 murder, where Saurabh Rajput's body was dismembered and hidden inside a blue drum, later filled with cement. The investigation involved 22 witnesses, including those related to the purchase of items linked to the murder, and extensive examination of hotel records, cab drivers, and various purchases.",
  "summary": "The court will announce its order on punishment after 15 days",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV - India News",
        "title": "In Meerut Blue Drum Murder Case, Wife, Her Lover Convicted",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/in-meerut-blue-drum-murder-case-wife-her-lover-convicted",
        "published": "2026-09-30T11:38:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Meerut ‘blue drum’ case: Muskan, lover Sahil found guilty of ex-Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput’s murder",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/meerut-blue-drum-case-muskan-lover-sahil-found-guilty-of-ex-merchant",
        "published": "2026-09-30T11:50:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Meerut ‘blue drum’ murder: Wife, lover guilty of husband’s killing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/meerut-blue-drum-murder-wife-lover-guilty-of-husbands-killing",
        "published": "2026-09-30T12:05:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}