After more than seven years, the Patnagarh Additional District Judge (ADJ) Court is set to pronounce its verdict on May 28 in the infamous Patnagarh parcel bomb case that sent shockwaves across Odisha and the nation.
The tragic incident occurred on February 23, 2018, when newlywed software engineer Soumyasekhar Sahu received what he believed to be a wedding gift at his home in Patnagarh, Bolangir. Upon opening the package, it exploded, instantly killing him and his grandmother, Jemamani Sahu, while leaving his wife, Reema Rani Sahu, critically injured.
Authorities later arrested Punjilal Meher, an English lecturer with an alleged personal vendetta against Soumyasekhar’s family. The investigation revealed that Meher had meticulously researched bomb-making techniques online, built the device, and posted the parcel under a false identity.
Over the years, the case has involved extensive forensic analysis, testimonies from numerous witnesses, and intense courtroom debates. Now, as the court prepares to deliver its final ruling, the people of Odisha eagerly await closure on one of the most disturbing crimes in recent history.
