Death Sentence to Nine Policemen Responsible for Torture and Death of Father-Son Detainees in Police Custody

A landmark judgement of Madurai Bench of Madras High Court

P. Jayaraj (right) who died in police custody and his son J. Bennix (left)

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) – The guilty Policemen responsible for the custodial death at Sathankulam Police custody in 2020 have been served death sentence by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court. The Court has given such a harsh sentence considering this as a very rare and serious case.

1. The decision was given after hearing of the case over a period of six years. The hearing was first held at the Additional District and Sessions Court with Judge G Muthukumaran. This Court convicted all the nine accused for murder and other relative clauses. In its decision, the Court noted that it was an example of extreme cruelty and misuse of power.

2. In the investigations conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI), it was revealed that the torture by the Police was pre-planned and it continued throughout the night. The CBI argued that the accused had deliberately committed such inhuman act; therefore, they should be given the maximum punishment. The Court accepted the argument.

What exactly is the case ?

P Jayaraj and his son J Benicks of Sathankulam in Tuticorin district died in Police custody. Both were arrested on 19.06.2020 on the charges of violating the lockdown rules imposed during the Corona pandemic. They had a mobile phones shop. It was alleged that the shop used to be open even after the stipulated hours. The investigations revealed that both were continuously and brutally beaten up. They were tortured throughout the night. Both sustained serious injuries causing massive bleeding, leading to their death as per the report. There was a public outrage over the incident across the country. People demanded justice questioning the atrocities in Police custody. The investigation was handed over to the CBI considering the seriousness of the issue.