The Patnagarh Parcel Bomb Case: A Wedding Gift of Death and a Professor’s Deadly Revenge

On February 23, 2018, a seemingly normal day in the small town of Patnagarh in Odisha, India, a horrifying incident unfolded that shocked the entire nation. What began as a joyous celebration of a newlywed couple turned into a nightmare that no one could have imagined.

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Soumya Sekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer, had just married his bride, Reema, five days earlier. The young couple was enjoying the bliss of their new life together when an unexpected parcel arrived at their home. The package, beautifully wrapped like a wedding gift, seemed harmless at first glance. However, what lay inside was far from a token of goodwill—it was a meticulously crafted bomb.

As Soumya opened the package, a devastating explosion erupted. The blast killed Soumya instantly, along with his 85-year-old great-grandmother, Chenamani. Reema, his young wife, was severely injured in the attack. The news of this horrific tragedy spread like wildfire across India, leaving everyone asking the same questions: Who sent this bomb? And why?

The police launched an immediate investigation, but the case was anything but straightforward. There were no eyewitnesses, no clear leads, and no solid evidence. Initial attempts to uncover the truth yielded little progress. The case was then handed over to the Odisha Crime Branch, where the real twists and turns of this shocking story began to unfold.

The investigation led the Crime Branch to a man named Punjilal Meher, an English lecturer at a local college. On the surface, Punjilal appeared to be a well-educated, respectable individual. But behind his calm and composed exterior lay a mind consumed by revenge and hatred.

The motive for this heinous crime was rooted in a professional rivalry. Years earlier, Punjilal had been removed from his position as the college principal and replaced by Soumya’s mother, Sanjukta Sahu. Punjilal couldn’t bear the humiliation of losing his post and had been harboring a grudge against Sanjukta ever since. This burning resentment eventually drove him to plot a sinister act of vengeance.

Punjilal began his preparations months in advance. He gathered gunpowder from firecrackers during Diwali, researched bomb-making techniques online, and conducted several trial runs before creating the deadly explosive device. To cover his tracks, he went to great lengths to ensure his anonymity. He used a courier service in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, that lacked CCTV cameras and operated under minimal scrutiny. He even used a fake name, “S.K. Sharma,” and provided a fictitious address when sending the parcel.

What made Punjilal’s actions even more chilling was his audacity. He attended Soumya’s wedding as a guest and later participated in the funeral rituals after the explosion, pretending to grieve alongside the family. However, as the saying goes, no crime is perfect, and even the most cunning criminals make mistakes.

Punjilal’s downfall began when he sent an anonymous letter to the Superintendent of Police in Bolangir, claiming that three individuals were responsible for the bombing and that Soumya had wronged someone. The language, font, and tone of the letter raised suspicions. Investigators deduced that it had been written by an educated person, and all clues pointed back to Punjilal.

A thorough search of Punjilal’s home revealed damning evidence, including his mobile phone, laptop, and pen drives containing incriminating data. Records from the courier service in Raipur and CCTV footage further sealed his fate. The Crime Branch also gathered statements from over 70 witnesses, leaving no room for doubt about Punjilal’s guilt.

In August 2018, Punjilal was formally charged as the sole accused in the case. After a lengthy legal battle, justice was finally served in 2025. The court sentenced Punjilal to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹20,000. For Soumya’s grieving parents, Sanjukta and Ravindra Sahu, the verdict brought some solace, though it could never bring back their beloved son. Ravindra expressed his wish for a harsher punishment but respected the court’s decision.

This chilling case is not just a story of a heinous crime but also a cautionary tale about the destructive power of revenge. Punjilal, a man of intellect and education, used his knowledge for evil, ultimately ruining his own life and devastating others in the process. It serves as a reminder that justice, though sometimes delayed, will always prevail.

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What do you think about this case? Do you believe justice was served, or should the punishment have been harsher? Share your thoughts below, and don’t forget to like this story and subscribe for more gripping tales. Until next time, stay safe and take care!