Tamil Nadu Court Awards Death Penalty to 9 Policemen in Sathankulam Custodial Death Case

Chennai (Gurpreet Singh): A district court in Madurai has sentenced nine police personnel to death in the high-profile custodial death case of a father and son that had sparked nationwide outrage in 2020.
The case relates to the deaths of P. Jayaraj and his son J. Bennix, who were allegedly tortured in custody at the Sathankulam Police Station in Thoothukudi district. The incident occurred on June 19, 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown when the two were arrested for reportedly keeping their mobile shop open beyond permitted hours.
According to the prosecution, the victims were subjected to brutal custodial torture before being sent to judicial custody, where they died within days. The case had triggered widespread protests across the country, raising serious concerns over police brutality and human rights violations.
In its verdict, the court described the crime as not merely an offence but an “extreme abuse of power.” It noted the shocking brutality inflicted on the victims, stating that they were stripped and mercilessly beaten, an act that “shakes the conscience” even when read.
Among those convicted are Inspector Sridhar and Sub-Inspectors Balakrishnan and Raghu Ganesh, along with six other personnel.
The court emphasised that the judgment should not intimidate honest police officers, as the action was directed only against those who had misused their authority and tarnished the dignity of the uniform. It added that the verdict serves as a strong message against a mindset that attempts to justify excesses in the name of law enforcement.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, which handled the probe, argued that the severity of the crime and eyewitness testimonies highlighted a grave violation of human rights, warranting the highest punishment.
The ruling is being seen as a landmark moment, reinforcing accountability within the system and delivering long-awaited justice in a case that had shaken the nation.