{
  "id": 14445698,
  "title": "From Blue Drum Discovery To Death Sentence: Meerut Court Awards Capital Punishment To Muskan & Her Lover Sahil",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/from-blue-drum-discovery-to-death-sentence-meerut-court-awards",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T11:53:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/uttar-pradesh/from-blue-drum-discovery-to-death-sentence-meerut-court-awards-capital-punishment-to-muskan-her-lover-sahil"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In March 2025, the Meerut court delivered a shocking verdict, sentencing Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla to death for the brutal murder of Saurabh Rajput. The crime came to light when Saurabh's brother, Bablu, reported him missing on March 18, 2025, and expressed concern over Muskan and Sahil's involvement. The court heard from both sides before delivering its final decision.\n\nMuskan and Sahil appeared via video conferencing from jail during the sentencing hearing on Wednesday. As the verdict was announced, Muskan folded her hands before breaking down emotionally. Sahil also expressed his grief. Neither of the convicts made a statement before the court.\n\nThe prosecution sought the death penalty, emphasizing the brutality of the crime and the sophisticated method used to dispose of Saurabh's body. The defence, represented by advocate Rekha Jain, argued for leniency, focusing on Muskan's family circumstances and the well-being of her two daughters. However, the court ultimately decided to impose the death sentence upon both convicts.\n\nThe investigation relied on circumstantial, forensic, and electronic evidence since there were no eyewitnesses to the murder. Investigators analyzed call detail records, mobile phone locations, hotel records, and CCTV footage. A cab driver was also questioned regarding the movements of the accused after the murder. The police filed a chargesheet on May 12, 2025, and the court convicted Muskan and Sahil on September 30, 2026, leading to the sentencing hearing.",
  "summary": "Meerut: A Meerut court on Wednesday sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the murder of Saurabh Rajput, a case that shocked the country after his dismembered body was found concealed in a blue plastic drum filled with cement. Court pronounces death sentence District Judge Arvind Kumar Mishra pronounced the sentence after hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence on the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "‘Let me meet my daughter once’: Muskan Rastogi ahead of blue drum murder verdict",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/let-me-meet-my-daughter-once-muskan-rastogi-ahead-of-blue-drum-murder",
        "published": "2026-10-14T07:23:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Meerut 'blue drum' murder: Death penalty for Muskan Rastogi, lover Sahil for husband's killing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/meerut-blue-drum-murder-death-penalty-for-muskan-rastogi-lover-sahil",
        "published": "2026-10-14T10:55:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Meerut Blue Drum Murder Case: Muskan Rastogi, Lover Sahil Shukla Sentenced To Death For Killing Saurabh",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/meerut-blue-drum-murder-case-muskan-rastogi-lover-sahil-shukla",
        "published": "2026-10-14T10:57:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Death Penalty For Muskaan Rastogi, Lover Sahil Shukla In Meerut Blue Drum Murder",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/death-penalty-for-muskaan-rastogi-lover-sahil-shukla-in-meerut-blue",
        "published": "2026-10-14T11:08:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}