Madurai Court Sentences Nine Police Officers to Death for Custodial Deaths

In a landmark ruling, a Madurai court has sentenced nine police officers to death for their involvement in the custodial deaths of P. Jeyaraj and his son J. Benniks. The case, which has drawn widespread attention and protests against police brutality, highlights serious concerns regarding law enforcement practices in Tamil Nadu. The court's decision follows a thorough investigation and judicial inquiry, emphasizing the unnatural nature of the injuries sustained by the victims. This ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing discourse about accountability within the police force.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 6, 2026, 20:02 IST

Court Ruling on Custodial Deaths

A court in Madurai has sentenced nine police officers to death for their roles in the custodial deaths of a father and son at the Sattankulam police station in Thoothukudi district, which occurred in June 2020.

On March 23, the First Additional District and Sessions Court found the officers guilty of causing the deaths of P. Jeyaraj, aged 58, and his son J. Benniks, aged 31.

Judge G. Muthukumaran convicted the following officers: Inspector S. Sridhar, Sub-Inspectors P. Raghu Ganesh and K. Balakrishnan, Head Constables S. Murugan and A. Saamidurai, along with Constables M. Muthuraj, S. Chelladurai, Thomas X, and S. Veilumuthu.

Notably, a tenth accused, Special Sub-Inspector Pauldurai, passed away due to complications from Covid-19.

On June 18, 2020, Jeyaraj and Benniks were arrested for allegedly breaching Covid-19 lockdown regulations. They were subjected to severe beatings and torture at the police station.

After being remanded to judicial custody, both men experienced serious health issues and were hospitalized. Benniks died on June 22, 2020, followed by Jeyaraj on June 23, 2020.

Their tragic deaths sparked significant protests and public outcry against police brutality.

During the March 23 ruling, the court noted that the injuries sustained by Jeyaraj and Benniks were unnatural and consistent with repeated assaults, as indicated in the post-mortem reports.

The judge dismissed claims that the injuries were self-inflicted and ruled out illness as a cause of death, despite Jeyaraj's prior heart condition, concluding that both men were murdered.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court took notice of the case, initiated a judicial inquiry, and began overseeing the investigation, which was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI subsequently prosecuted the nine police officers involved.