Patnagarh Parcel Blast: HC To Hear Bail Plea Of Punjilal Meher On Jan 17

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court will hear the regular bail plea of Punjilal Meher, the alleged mastermind in the sensational parcel blast case on January 17.

The division bench of Justice JP Das, while hearing the bail plea of Meher on Tuesday, posted the next hearing to January 17.

The investigating officer (IO) and the additional SP, Anil Kumar was present in the court.

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, 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 Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch had submitted a 300-page preliminary charge sheet against Meher, in Patnagarh SDJM Court on August 20. In the chargesheet, the Crime Branch had included the statement of 72 witnesses and eyewitnesses.

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