Patnagarh, Odisha – In a chilling conclusion to one of India’s most shocking murder cases, a court has sentenced former college principal Punjilal Meher to life imprisonment for orchestrating the 2018 “wedding bomb” explosion that killed a newlywed man and his great aunt.
The crime, which took place in Patnagarh, Odisha, stunned the nation. Meher, 56, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and use of explosives after delivering a parcel bomb disguised as a wedding gift to the home of Soumya Sekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer.
Just five days after his wedding, Sahu opened the gift in his kitchen, triggering a powerful blast that killed him and his 85-year-old great aunt Jemamani Sahu. His wife Reema, then 22, survived with critical injuries, including burns and hearing loss.
Calculated Revenge wedding bomb Fueled by Professional Grudge
The investigation revealed that Meher, who had once been principal of the local college where Soumya’s mother worked, harbored a deep resentment after being replaced by her. What was initially dismissed as routine academic politics turned out to be the motive behind a meticulously planned murder.
Police uncovered that Meher built the bomb using firecracker gunpowder and mailed it from Raipur in Chhattisgarh under a fake name to avoid detection. He deliberately chose a courier service without CCTV surveillance or parcel scanning.
Anonymous Letter Turned the Case
Weeks after the blast, the investigation had stalled until an anonymous letter reached the local police chief. The letter referred to incorrect details that only the bomber could have known, prompting suspicions that the writer and bomber were the same.
Soumya’s mother recognized the phrasing and handwriting as that of Meher. A deeper probe led police to arrest him. He initially denied involvement but reportedly later confessed to constructing and sending the explosive device.
Court Rejects Death Penalty, Cites Lack of “Rarest of Rare” Classification
Despite the brutality of the act, the court declined to impose the death penalty, instead sentencing Meher to life imprisonment. The case had captivated India, with many following the BBC’s investigative series that provided rare insights into the plot and its unraveling.
Justice After Seven Years
For Reema and the families affected, the court’s decision offers long-awaited justice. However, scars from the trauma remain. Reema continues to cope with both physical and emotional aftermaths of the attack that changed her life forever.
While Meher will spend the rest of his life behind bars, the “wedding bomb” case remains one of India’s most disturbing examples of personal vendetta turned deadly, underscoring the potential horror when intellect is used for malevolent ends.
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