Sathankulam Custodial Death Case: Madurai Court Awards Death Penalty to 9 Policemen

A sessions court in Madurai has awarded the death penalty to nine policemen convicted in the 2020 custodial deaths of P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin district.

The First Additional District and Sessions Court judge G Muthukumaran pronounced the sentence on Monday, holding all nine accused guilty of the double murder. Those convicted include then inspector S Sridhar, sub-inspectors K Balakrishnan and P Raghu Ganesh, head constables S Murugan and A Samadurai, and constables M Muthuraja, S Chelladurai, X Thomas Francis and S Vailmuthu. A tenth आरोपी, special sub-inspector Paldurai, had died of Covid-19 in August 2020.

The case dates back to June 2020, when Jeyaraj and Beniks were taken into custody by the Sathankulam police for allegedly keeping their shop open beyond permitted hours during the Covid-19 lockdown. According to findings, the duo was subjected to severe assault in custody before being remanded to Kovilpatti sub-jail. Beniks died on June 22, 2020, followed by Jeyaraj on June 23 due to injuries.

The incident had triggered nationwide outrage over custodial violence. Taking suo motu cognisance, the Madras High Court intervened in the case and, on June 29, 2020, transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

During the course of the probe, the High Court also directed administrative authorities to secure evidence from the police station after reports of non-cooperation with judicial inquiries. The CBI subsequently filed its chargesheet against the accused in September 2020 and a supplementary chargesheet in August 2022.

On March 23, 2026, the court found all nine policemen guilty, concluding a prolonged legal process that followed one of the most high-profile custodial death cases in recent years.

The sentencing marks a significant development in the case, which had become a symbol of the debate over police accountability and custodial violence in India.