Odisha Lecturer Gets Life Imprisonment For Killing Two By Sending Parcel Bomb As Wedding Gift
The Patnagarh Additional District Judge (ADJ) court has convicted the accused Punjilal Meher in the case and sentenced him to life imprisonment, government counsel Chittaranjan Kanungo said.
Bhubaneswar: In a landmark verdict delivering justice in one of India’s most chilling criminal cases, a court in Odisha on Tuesday sentenced Punjilal Meher, a former college principal, to life imprisonment for orchestrating a parcel bomb attack that killed two people and left a young woman grievously injured.
The sentencing by the Additional District and Sessions Judge in Patnagarh, Bolangir district, comes more than seven years after the shocking crime. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict.
A Parcel Wrapped in Death
On February 23, 2018, what should have been a joyful new beginning for a young couple turned into a nightmare. Soumyasekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer, and his wife Reema Rani had been married for just five days when a package arrived at their home in Patnagarh. Mistaking it for a wedding gift, Soumyasekhar unwrapped it — triggering a powerful explosion.
The blast killed Soumyasekhar and his 85-year-old grandmother Jemamani Sahu. Reema, seated nearby, survived but suffered life-altering injuries and deep emotional trauma.
Jealousy Turned Deadly
As the investigation unfolded, suspicion fell on Punjilal Meher, an English lecturer and former principal of Jyoti Vikas College. He had been replaced by Soumyasekhar’s mother, Sanjukta Sahu, as principal. Investigators found that Meher had harbored deep resentment over the loss of his position and the status that came with it.
What stunned both investigators and the public was Meher’s meticulous planning. He researched bomb-making techniques online, sourced chemicals and firecrackers, assembled the explosive device, and travelled to another city to post the parcel under a false identity — all while trying to cover his tracks.
A Forensic Milestone
The Odisha Crime Branch, led by senior officer Arun Bothra and aided by national forensic experts, undertook a complex investigation. Digital trails, forensic evidence, and witness testimonies were meticulously pieced together. Seized items from Meher’s possession — including gunpowder, wires, a partially burned diary, and incriminating data from his computer — were pivotal in building the case.
The investigation marked a milestone in the use of digital forensics in India, demonstrating how advanced methods can crack crimes committed by seemingly ordinary individuals.
Justice Delivered, If Not Fully Satisfying
Although the victims' family had demanded the death penalty — calling the incident a “rarest of rare” crime — the court awarded life imprisonment. The ruling brings legal closure to a case that sent shockwaves through Odisha and beyond.
“We wanted a death sentence for the accused. However, the court awarded life imprisonment. Now the accused will spend the rest of his life in jail and die every moment. We are satisfied to some extent,” said Soumyasekhar’s mother.
