Patnagarh Parcel Blast: CB Submits Final Chargesheet Against Punjilal Meher

Balangir: The Crime Branch (CB) on Thursday submitted the final chargesheet against Punjilal Meher, the prime accused in Patnagarh parcel bomb blast which took place in Odisha’s Balangir district on February 23 last year.

The state investigating agency submitted the chargesheet in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge in Balangir.

The 65-page final chargesheet has the statements of 76 witnesses, observations of the scientific team and a series of facts and figures.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch had submitted a 300-page preliminary chargesheet against the prime accused in the court on August 20 last year.

The parcel bomb case, which claimed two lives at Bholanathpada village in Odisha’s Balangir on February 23, had sent shock waves across the state. The newly-wed couple Soumya Sekhar Sahu, his wife Rimamani and grandmother Jemamani were grievously injured while opening a gift pack which exploded.

While Soumya Sekhar and his grandmother succumbed to their injuries, Rimamani was rushed to VIMSAR in Burla and later shifted to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack.

Following a request by Rimarani and her family, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a Crime Branch probe into the incident. The Crime Branch took over the investigation on March 23 and arrested Meher on April 25.

The Crime Branch has mentioned revenge as the motive behind the crime.

According to the report, Punjilal, a lecturer in English, was the acting principal of Jyoti Bikash College at Bhainsa. However, he was upset after Sanjukta Sahu (mother of Soumya Sekhar) replaced him as the full-time principal.

The prime accused is currently lodged in the Patnagarh Sub-Jail.