Madurai, April 6: The First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai sentenced nine police officers to death on Monday in connection with the 2020 custodial deaths in Sathankulam. This ruling has reignited the national debate on violence in custody.
The case involves the deaths of businessman P. Jayaraj (58) and his son J. Benix (31), who reportedly died due to brutal torture while in police custody. On March 23, 2026, the court found all nine defendants guilty but reserved its decision on sentencing.
During the sentencing, the court accepted the prosecution’s argument that this crime falls into the ‘rarest of rare’ category, justifying the death penalty.
Both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and lawyers representing the victims’ families strongly advocated for the maximum punishment. They argued that the victims endured inhumane torture overnight at the Sathankulam police station, despite not committing any serious offense.
They contended that the harshest penalty under the law is warranted for such brutality.
This case sparked widespread outrage across the country in 2020, prompting the Madras High Court’s Madurai bench to take suo motu cognizance. Subsequently, the then AIADMK government transferred the investigation from the state police to the CBI to ensure a fair inquiry.
Initially, ten police officers were charged, but one, Special Sub-Inspector Pauldurai, died during the trial after contracting COVID-19, leaving nine officers to face prosecution.
The CBI filed its primary chargesheet in September 2020, followed by a supplementary chargesheet in August 2022, detailing the events and evidence collected.
According to the investigation, Jayaraj was picked up from his shop near the Kamaraj statue on the evening of June 19, 2020. His son Benix later arrived at the police station upon learning of his father’s arrest and was also taken into custody after clashing with the officers.
Both were allegedly subjected to severe torture overnight. The CBI reported that the victims were brutally beaten, forced to clean their own blood, and later framed in a false case.
Evidence, including witness statements, medical reports, and video footage, indicates attempts to deliberately destroy evidence of the crime.
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