Balangir: Punjilal Meher, the prime accused in the sensational 2018 Patnagarh parcel bomb blast case, was today sentenced to life imprisonment by the ADJ, Patnagarh, Balangir.
The verdict brings a conclusion to a case that shocked the state and garnered national attention due to its unusual and tragic nature.
The court, presided over by ADJ, Patnagarh delivered the judgment after finding Shri Meher guilty of orchestrating the blast that killed newlywed Soumya Sekhar Sahu and his grandmother Jemamani Sahu, and critically injured Soumya’s wife, Reema Sahu.
The prosecution successfully established Shri Meher’s motive and his meticulous planning of the crime.
In a significant legal development, accused Punjilal has been convicted on all charges for which he was chargesheeted by the Crime Branch, including murder under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and penal offences under the Explosive Substance Act.
The conviction has been lauded as a testament to the high quality and professional probe conducted by the Crime Branch.
In a rare and stringent order, the court has sentenced Punjilal to two life sentences, having found him guilty under two distinct laws. This unprecedented ruling signifies that Shri Meher is expected to spend the remainder of his life incarcerated, with no eligibility for commutation of sentence, unless the verdict is overturned upon appeal. The judgment ensures that the accused will “spend his life and die in jail.”
The meticulous investigation by the Crime Branch led to a comprehensive chargesheet, which ultimately resulted in the court’s decision to convict Meher on all counts.
Legal experts note that such a severe and non-commutable sentence underscores the gravity of the crimes committed and the robustness of the evidence presented by the prosecution. The verdict sends a strong message regarding the judiciary’s firm stance against such heinous offences.
Shri Meher, an English lecturer and a former colleague of Soumya Sekhar’s wife, Reema, harbored a grudge against the family.
He allegedly sent a parcel containing a homemade bomb disguised as a wedding gift to Soumya Sekhar’s residence in Patnagarh, Balangir district, on February 23, 2018, just days after the couple’s wedding. The bomb exploded upon opening, leading to the immediate deaths of Soumya Sekhar and his grandmother.
The investigation, initially challenging due to the lack of immediate leads, eventually pointed towards Shri Meher after painstaking efforts by the Odisha Crime Branch.
The then ADG, Crime Branch, Arun Bothra, known for his competence in investigation took up the case. Forensic evidence, call detail records, and witness testimonies played crucial roles in unraveling the plot. Shri Meher was arrested in April 2018.
During the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence, including the recovery of bomb-making materials from Shri Meher’s possession and his confession, which detailed his motive and the execution of the crime. The defence, while attempting to discredit the evidence, failed to sway the court.
The judgment was met with a sense of relief by the victims’ family, who had been awaiting justice for over seven years. The case serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of personal vendettas and the misuse of dangerous substances.