Balangir: The additional district and sessions judge (ADJ) court in Patnagarh, Balangir district, is scheduled to deliver its verdict on May 28 in the sensational parcel bomb case, nearly seven years after the tragic incident. The focus is on the court’s decision regarding punishment for the accused, Punjilal Meher.Meher was brought to the ADJ court under tight security from Balangir district jail. Family members of both accused and victims were present in the courtroom. The court announced the date of verdict on Wednesday following the conclusion of arguments presented by both the prosecution and the defense. The hearing on physical evidence had earlier concluded on April 3. The defense presented three witnesses, including the accused himself, while the prosecution submitted 62 pieces of physical evidence.Prosecution lawyer Chittaranjan Kanoongo said all the evidence collected during the investigation had been thoroughly presented in court.“The investigating agency conducted a detailed probe and gathered credible evidence, which is sufficient to prove the crime committed by the accused. We are hopeful that the victim’s family will receive justice and that the accused will be appropriately punished,” said Kanoongo.Defense lawyer Pramod Mishra maintained that his client is innocent and has been falsely implicated. He alleged that Meher was coerced by investigators into confessing to a crime he did not commit. “The investigating agency deliberately framed Meher and hastily closed the investigation without exploring other possible angles. The probe was not conducted properly,” Mishra claimed.Rabindra Sahu, father of the victimSoumya Sekhar Sahu, expressed hope that justice would be served. “The crime branch swiftly investigated the case and arrested the accused along with strong evidence. We trust the judiciary will deliver justice by convicting the accused,” he said.The case dates back to Feb 23, 2018, when a parcel bomb exploded at the residence of 26-year-old software engineer Soumya Sekhar Sahu, just days after his wedding. The blast killed Soumya and his great aunt, Jamamani Sahu, and critically injured his wife, Reema Sahu.Following an extensive investigation, police arrested Punjilal Meher, a lecturer of Jyoti Vikas College in Bhainsa, who had a professional enmity with Soumya’s mother at the institution where she had worked as a lecturer.