Sathankulam Custodial Killing Case: A court in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district on Monday sentenced nine policemen to death in connection with the custodial deaths of trader P Jayaraj and his son J Benicks in Thoothukudi district, a case that sparked nationwide outrage six years ago.
Describing the incident as a “case of abuse of authority”, the court said the verdict would not “instill fear among police” and emphasised that many officers in the state serve with integrity.
"Father and son stripped, ruthlessly assaulted... Heart shudders reading about it," the court said.
The incident dates back to June 19, 2020, when Jayaraj and Benicks, who ran a mobile shop, were arrested for allegedly keeping their store open beyond permitted hours during the COVID-19 lockdown, a claim later found to be false. They were taken to the Sathankulam police station and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. Both died within days.
Family members alleged that the two were brutally assaulted overnight at the police station, citing injuries such as rectal bleeding and other signs of severe physical abuse.
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The Central Bureau of Investigation, which later took over the probe from the state’s CB-CID following directions from the Madras High Court, arrested 10 policemen in connection with the case, including an inspector, two sub-inspectors, and several constables. Murder charges were subsequently filed against the accused officers.
A key development in the investigation was the testimony of a woman constable, who reportedly told investigators that the father and son were assaulted through the night and that blood stains were found on tables and lathis at the station.
Investigators also encountered hurdles, including the deletion of crucial CCTV footage from the Sathankulam police station, as recordings were allegedly set to be erased automatically each day and were not preserved.