Six Years After Sathankulam Custodial Deaths, Nine Tamil Nadu Policemen Sentenced to Death in Rare Verdict

A court in Tamil Nadu has sentenced nine police personnel to death in connection with the custodial deaths of P. Jayaraj and his son J. Benicks, bringing a major legal development nearly six years after the incident that sparked nationwide outrage. The ruling, delivered after years of investigation and trial proceedings, described the case as one of extreme custodial brutality and an abuse of authority.

The incident dates back to June 19, 2020, in Sathankulam town of Thoothukudi district, where Jayaraj was initially taken into custody over an alleged altercation related to lockdown rule violations. Later that evening, his son Benicks went to the police station to inquire about the arrest. According to eyewitness accounts and later testimonies, what followed was a prolonged episode of violence inside the station that would ultimately lead to the deaths of both men within four days.

Police initially claimed the father and son had violated pandemic restrictions by keeping their shop open beyond permitted hours and had behaved aggressively toward officers. However, this version was strongly disputed by witnesses and family members, who alleged that the two were subjected to sustained assault while in custody. Testimony from a woman constable and other evidence later supported claims that the violence continued through the night and left visible bloodstains inside the police station.

The two men were produced before a judicial magistrate the following day and then transferred to the Kovilpatti sub-jail instead of a nearer facility. Benicks died on June 22 after complaining of chest pain while in custody, and Jayaraj died the following day at the same hospital. The deaths triggered widespread protests across Tamil Nadu, with businesses shutting down in solidarity and calls for accountability gaining momentum across the country.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court intervened early in the investigation, ordering preservation of evidence, videography of the postmortem examinations, and close monitoring of the probe. The case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which arrested multiple officers, including an inspector and two sub-inspectors, as part of its inquiry.

After more than five years of legal proceedings, the court described the case as falling within the “rarest of rare” category and sentenced nine police officials to death. The judgment also noted that while most police personnel serve with integrity, the ruling was intended to send a strong message against custodial violence and reinforce accountability within law enforcement institutions.