MADURAI – In a landmark judgment that has shaken the nation’s legal and administrative landscape, the First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai has awarded the death penalty to nine police personnel for the brutal Sathankulam custodial torture and subsequent deaths of a father-son duo, P. Jeyaraj and J. Benniks, in 2020. Pronouncing the quantum of sentence today, April 6, 2026, Judge G. Muthukumaran described the case as “rarest of the rare,” highlighting a gross abuse of authority by those sworn to protect the public.

The Sathankulam Custodial Case: A Night of Horror

The horrific incident dates back to June 19, 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district.

• The Alleged Offense: Authorities arrested the father and son for allegedly operating their mobile accessories store beyond the government-mandated closing time.
• The Torture: According to the CBI investigation, the duo was subjected to relentless and merciless physical assault throughout the night at the Sathankulam Police Station.
• The Tragic End: Benniks succumbed to his injuries on June 22, followed by his father, Jeyaraj, on June 23, while both were in judicial custody.

The Convicted Officers

The court awarded the maximum punishment to all nine accused prosecuted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI):

1. S. Sridhar (Then Inspector/SHO)
2. P. Raguganesh (Sub-Inspector)
3. K. Balakrishnan (Sub-Inspector)
4. S. Murugan (Head Constable)
5. A. Samadurai (Head Constable)
6. M. Muthuraja (Constable)
7. S. Chelladurai (Constable)
8. X. Thomas Francis (Constable)
9. S. Veilumuthu (Constable)

Note: A tenth accused, Special Sub-Inspector Pauldurai, died due to COVID-19 during the trial.

Court Observations & Compensation

In a strongly worded judgment, the court observed that the police acted with “deliberate intent to instill fear” and described custodial deaths as a “social evil.” > “Where there is power, there must be responsibility. Those meant to protect became perpetrators,” the Judge noted.

• Fines & Compensation: The court imposed collective fines exceeding ₹1.40 crore, directed to be paid to the family of the deceased. Failure to pay will result in the confiscation and sale of the convicts’ properties.
• The Trial: Spanning over five years, the CBI examined 52 witnesses and cited 135 in total to prove that the deaths were a direct result of unnatural, blunt-force trauma inflicted during custody.

Impact and Closure

The 2020 incident had triggered massive public outrage, leading the Tamil Nadu government to transfer the case to the CBI. Today’s verdict is seen as a historic step toward police accountability in India.

“This is not just justice for us, but for all common people,” said J. Persis, daughter of Jeyaraj, following the verdict. The judgment is expected to serve as a significant deterrent against custodial violence and human rights violations by law enforcement agencies.