Bhubaneswar, May 29: Senior IPS officer Arun Bothra, who spearheaded the investigation into the high-profile Patnagarh parcel bomb case, expressed his satisfaction on Wednesday after the court handed down a life sentence to the mastermind, Punjilal Meher.
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Bothra, currently serving as the Additional Director General (ADG) of Railways and Coastal Security, acknowledged that while no punishment could bring back Soumya Sekhar Sahu’s family, the conviction marked an important closure to the tragic case. He also commended the investigation team for their relentless efforts.
The case has been hailed as a significant victory for Odisha Police, especially given the lack of eyewitnesses and minimal evidence linking the crime to the perpetrator, Punjilal Meher. Bothra, who was the Inspector General (IG) of the Crime Branch (CB) in 2018, was tasked with leading the investigation after local police failed to make progress. The Odisha state government subsequently transferred the case to the CB.
At the time, Bothra set up a base in Patnagarh and oversaw the investigation personally. "There was no physical evidence, as the parcel bomb had detonated at the scene. However, a crucial anonymous letter sent to the Bolangir Superintendent of Police, intended to mislead the investigation, eventually led us to the mastermind," Bothra explained to the media following the conviction.
The letter, sent by Meher in an attempt to divert attention, ended up being a key clue that placed him under suspicion and ultimately led to his arrest. "Punjilal was extremely methodical and had carefully planned the entire crime. We were able to trace him based on the details and peculiarities in the letter, including the writing style, font, and spacing, which indicated a strong command of English," Bothra added.
A breakthrough in the investigation occurred when a search of Meher's house uncovered envelopes similar to the one used to send the letter. Additionally, forensic analysis of the adhesive on the envelope, as well as the laptop and printer used to create the letter, confirmed the connection. Further forensic evidence was gathered when remnants of firecracker casings, used in the parcel bomb, were found in a public dustbin where Meher had discarded them after attempting to destroy the evidence.
This conviction marks the second high-profile case in which Bothra's leadership has been credited with bringing justice. The first was the 2020 sexual assault and murder case of a minor girl named Pari in Nayagarh, where Bothra again led the investigation.
Bothra’s meticulous approach to the case has earned praise, with the Patnagarh conviction being seen as a testament to the Crime Branch's persistence in solving complex and challenging cases.
