Patnagarh parcel bomb case: Court awards life imprisonment to accused Punjilal Meher

The Additional District Judge in Patnagarh of Bolangir district today sentenced former college principal Punjilal Meher to life imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 for orchestrating a deadly parcel bomb attack that killed two people and left a young bride permanently scarred, both physically and emotionally.

The verdict comes more than seven years after the incident shook the small town of Patnagarh in Bolangir district, turning a newlywed celebration into a scene of horror and grabbing national headlines and becoming one of the state’s most sensational criminal cases,

The court found Punjilal Meher guilty under Sections 302, 307, and 201 of the IPC, and the Explosive Substances Act.

Case Background

On February 23, 2018, Soumyasekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer, and his bride, Reema Rani, had barely begun their married life when a package arrived at their doorstep, one they assumed was a congratulatory gift. 

As Soumyasekhar unwrapped the parcel inside their home in Bholanathpada, a powerful explosion tore through the room.

The blast killed him and his 85-year-old grandmother, Jemamani Sahu, instantly. Reema, sitting beside him, suffered grievous injuries but survived.

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Who Is the Accused

The investigation led to Punjilal Meher, an English lecturer and former principal at Jyoti Vikas College, where Soumyasekhar’s mother, Sanjukta Sahu, had taken over his position. Police alleged Meher was embittered by the loss of professional stature and plotted the attack as retribution against the Sahu family.

He reportedly spent months researching explosives using online videos, purchased chemicals and firecrackers, and travelled to Raipur to post the bomb under a fake identity—all in an attempt to erase his tracks.

How the Case Unfolded

The Odisha Crime Branch pieced together a web of digital evidence, forensic reports, and witness accounts to build their case. Items recovered from Meher’s possession, including gunpowder, wiring, a partially burned diary, and computer data, were central to the prosecution.

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While the victims' family demanded the death penalty, calling it a “rarest of rare” crime, the Additional District and Sessions Judge awarded Meher life imprisonment. The court’s decision brings long-awaited closure for the victims’ families and a sobering end to a case that stunned the state with its cold calculation.