Madurai: In a landmark verdict, the Madras High Court bench in Madurai on Monday sentenced nine Tamil Nadu police personnel to death in the 2020 Sathankulam custodial deaths case, terming it a “rarest of rare” crime marked by extreme brutality and abuse of power.
Delivering the judgment after a six-year trial, Justice G Muthukumaran found all nine accused guilty of murder and related offences in the deaths of trader P Jayaraj (59) and his son J Benniks (31).
Brutality and abuse of power established
The court accepted the prosecution’s argument, presented by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), that the custodial torture was premeditated and carried out through the night, warranting the maximum punishment under law.
Those convicted include inspector S Sridhar, sub-inspectors P Raghu Ganesh and K Balakrishnan, head constables S Murugan and A Samadurai, and constables M Muthuraj, S Chelladurai, X Thomas Francis and S Veilumuthu. A tenth आरोपी, special sub-inspector Pauldurai, had died during the trial due to COVID-19.
Case that sparked nationwide outrage
The case had triggered widespread outrage across India in 2020. Jayaraj and Benniks were detained on June 19 for allegedly keeping their mobile accessories shop open beyond permitted hours during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Investigations later revealed that the duo were subjected to prolonged custodial torture inside the police station, suffering severe injuries, including blunt-force trauma and heavy bleeding.
Both died days later in custody at Kovilpatti sub-jail on June 22 and 23, intensifying public anger and demands for accountability.
Evidence tampering and cover-up attempts
According to the investigation, the accused officers attempted to destroy evidence following the assault. The victims were allegedly forced to clean their own blood, while blood-stained clothes were disposed of and a false case was registered to conceal the crime.
Forensic evidence presented by the CBI played a crucial role in securing convictions. DNA samples collected from the lockup walls, toilet, station premises, and lathis matched those of the victims.
Details of the assault
The chargesheet detailed that Jayaraj was picked up from Kamarajar Chowk on the evening of June 19. Benniks later went to the police station after learning about his father’s detention.
When Benniks objected to the assault on his father, he too was brutally attacked. Both were reportedly stripped and beaten with lathis while being restrained, leaving them defenceless.
Medical reports confirmed multiple grievous injuries. Benniks died due to complications arising from blunt injuries, while Jayaraj, who had underlying health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, had pleaded with officers to stop the assault.
Court calls it “rarest of rare”
The court observed that the accused acted with common intention and inflicted injuries knowing the likely fatal consequences. It held that the custodial deaths represented a gross violation of human rights and justified the imposition of the death penalty.
Conclusion
The verdict marks a significant moment in India’s legal history, reinforcing accountability in cases of custodial violence. It sends a strong message against abuse of power by law enforcement agencies and underscores the importance of upholding constitutional rights and human dignity.