Life Sentence for Punjilal Meher in 2018 Patnagarh Parcel Bomb Case

Bhubaneswar: In a major development in one of Odisha’s most chilling criminal cases, the Additional District Judge Court in Patnagarh has sentenced Punjilal Meher to life imprisonment for orchestrating the deadly 2018 parcel bomb blast that killed two people and left a young bride gravely injured. The court has also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on Meher, a former principal and English lecturer at Jyoti Vikas College.

The verdict comes after a prolonged trial during which the court recorded statements from 62 witnesses, including the accused. Based on the testimonies and forensic evidence, Meher was found guilty of planning and executing the fatal blast that shook Patnagarh and stunned the state.

The horrifying incident occurred on February 23, 2018, just days after the wedding of software engineer Soumyasekhar and his wife Reema Rani. On that day, the couple received a parcel at their home, assumed to be a wedding gift. As Soumyasekhar opened it, the package exploded, killing him and his 85-year-old grandmother Jemamani Sahu on the spot. Reema, who was seated beside her husband, sustained critical injuries but miraculously survived the blast.

The investigation led authorities to Punjilal Meher, who was reportedly driven by a personal vendetta. According to the case diary, Meher was upset over being replaced as principal of Jyoti Vikas College by Soumyasekhar’s mother, Sanjukta Sahu. Enraged and seeking revenge, Meher meticulously planned the attack over several months.

He is reported to have conducted extensive research on bomb-making techniques, procured chemicals and firecrackers, and finally dispatched the explosive parcel from Raipur under a false identity in a calculated attempt to mask his involvement. The meticulous planning and chilling motive made the case one of the most high-profile criminal investigations in the state.

After nearly seven years of investigation and legal proceedings, the court’s judgment brings a sense of closure to the victims’ family and reaffirms the justice system’s role in ensuring accountability, even in the most complex and cold-blooded crimes.