WATCH: Patnagarh Parcel Bomb Case: Why Life Sentence for Punjilal Meher and not Death Penalty?
Patnagarh: The ADJ Court in Patnagarh awarded life sentence and not death penalty to the accused Punjilal Meher in the heinous and ill famous parcel bomb case. This was a trending topic because of the severity and cruelty as well as rarity of the crime. Accordingly, many people had probably speculated that the accused would be given death sentence, but he was given life sentence. Here is the reason.
The Court explained in the judgement as follows: The Court acknowledges the severity and cruelty of the crime but notes that it does not meet the legal standard of the “rarest of rare” cases necessary for the death penalty.
Death penalty should not be imposed merely due to the heinousness of the crime but only when life imprisonment is inadequate for justice.
The court considered both aggravating and mitigating circumstances, such as the accused’s health, loss of employment, and impact on academic pursuits.
The judgment emphasizes that justice should be proportionate and not vindictive. It must include reformation, reflection, and redemption, not just retribution.
Quoting Justice Krishna Iyer: The court cites, “Every saint has a past, and every sinner a future”, reinforcing the idea of the possibility of reform and second chances.
In essence, the court decided against the death penalty, favoring a more humane and reformative approach to justice. Instead of imposing the death sentence, the court emphasizes the importance of the convict reflecting on his crimes while serving life imprisonment. This allows space for repentance and reformation.
It is to be noted that on February 23, 2018, a gift parcel delivered to the residence of newlywed Soumya Sekhar Sahu and his wife Reema turned out to be a deadly trap. As Soumya opened the parcel, a powerful bomb exploded, claiming the lives of the young software engineer and his grandmother, Jemamani Sahu. Also, Reema suffered serious injuries in the blast.
The investigation that followed was a complex and challenging one, with the police pursuing leads across multiple cities before finally arresting a colleague of Soumya’s mother, who had been replaced at her college. This shocking incident sent ripples through the region, raising questions about safety.
