Sathankulam Custodial Deaths: 9 Cops Sentenced to Death

In a landmark verdict that reverberated across India, the First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, on Monday, April 6, 2026, awarded the death penalty to nine police officers for the brutal custodial torture and murder of P. Jayaraj and his son J. Bennix. This judgment comes almost six years after the horrific incident in June 2020, which ignited nationwide outrage against police brutality and custodial violence. The case dates back to June 19, 2020, when P. Jayaraj, a 59-year-old timber trader, and his 31-year-old son J. Bennix, who ran a mobile phone shop, were taken into custody by the Sathankulam police in Thoothukudi district. They were allegedly arrested for keeping their mobile accessories shop open beyond permitted hours, violating the COVID-19 lockdown norms then in place. However, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later claimed in its chargesheet that there was no actual violation of lockdown rules. Eyewitnesses and subsequent investigations revealed that the father-son duo was subjected to extreme physical assault and brutal torture while in police custody during the intervening night of June 19 and 20, 2020. Reports indicated that they suffered severe injuries, including rectal bleeding, and were forced to change clothes multiple times due to profuse bleeding. The police allegedly continued the assault even after their arrest. Bennix succumbed to his injuries on June 22, 2020, at Kovilpatti Government Hospital, and his father Jayaraj died the following day, June 23, 2020, from similar complications. The deaths sparked immense public outcry, drawing attention from national and international media, activists, and celebrities. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court took *suo motu* cognisance of the matter, and the then Tamil Nadu government subsequently transferred the investigation to the CBI to ensure a fair probe. The CBI registered two cases on July 7, 2020, and conducted a thorough investigation, examining 105 witnesses over a period of five years. During its investigation, the CBI relied on forensic evidence, medical reports, and witness testimonies, which established that the assault inside the Sathankulam police station was sustained and brutal. Key evidence included bloodstains found across the station and injuries meticulously documented in post-mortem reports. The court rejected arguments that the injuries were self-inflicted, noting that post-mortem reports clearly showed they resulted from repeated assault. The CBI had also highlighted that a "fit for remand" certificate was obtained despite the severe injuries, and blood-stained clothes were discarded. On March 23, 2026, the Madurai court, presided over by Judge G. Muthukumaran, found all nine accused police officers guilty of various offences, including murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, along with charges of wrongful confinement, fabricating evidence, and filing false cases. Of the original ten accused police personnel, one special sub-inspector, Pauldurai, died during the trial due to health complications, reportedly COVID-19. Pronouncing the quantum of sentence on April 6, 2026, Judge Muthukumaran classified the case as the 'rarest of rare', emphasizing that those entrusted with protecting the public had committed a crime that shook the collective conscience of society. He stated that mere life imprisonment would not instill fear in police officers and would send a false message to society, stressing the need for stringent punishment to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The judge observed that by killing both the father and the son, the police had 'uprooted the very foundation of a family'. The court also imposed a combined fine of ₹1.40 crore on the convicted officers, to be paid as compensation to the victims' family. The convicted officers include former inspector S. Sridhar, former sub-inspectors K. Balakrishnan and P. Raghu Ganesh, head constables S. Murugan and A. Samadurai, and constables M. Muthuraja, S. Chelladurai, X. Thomas Francis, and S. Veilumuthu. This verdict is hailed as a significant step towards accountability within law enforcement and reinforces the judiciary's role in upholding human rights and the rule of law in India, particularly against the backdrop of persistent concerns about custodial violence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Full Story on Quick Digest