On April 6, 2026, a Madurai court sentenced nine Tamil Nadu police personnel to death for the 2020 custodial murder of trader P. Jayaraj (58) and his son J. Benicks (31). The duo was arrested in June 2020 for allegedly violating COVID-19 lockdown hours a charge later proven false by the CBI and subjected to hours of “inhumane and unnatural” torture at the Sattankulam police station.
The court, noting the extreme abuse of authority by those sworn to protect, also ordered a total compensation of Rs 1.40 crore to be paid by the convicts to the victims’ family.
A “Rarest of Rare” Abuse of Power
The sentencing marks a significant moment in India’s judicial history regarding police accountability. Judge G. Muthukumaran, while pronouncing the order, remarked that the “heart shudders” reading the details of the assault.
The court noted that the victims were stripped and ruthlessly beaten in front of each other as an “act of vengeance.” The CBI’s investigation further revealed that the father and son were forced to clean their own blood from the station floor to destroy evidence.
“Where there was power, there should be responsibility,” the judge stated, adding that the officers including Inspector Sridhar and Sub-Inspectors Balakrishnan and Raghu Ganesh acted as “the fence eating the crop.”
The Long Road to Justice
The tragedy began on June 19, 2020, when Jayaraj was picked up from his mobile shop, followed by Benicks, who rushed to the station to inquire about his father.
Despite having no criminal antecedents, they were subjected to brutal torture through the night, succumbing to injuries on June 22 and 23.
The incident sparked nationwide outrage, drawing comparisons to international cases of police brutality and prompting the Madras High Court to take suo motu cognisance. While ten officers were initially accused, Special Sub-Inspector Pauldurai died of COVID-19 during the trial. The remaining nine have remained in custody for nearly six years, culminating in this week’s verdict.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that no citizen should ever have to fear the very institution meant to safeguard them. This judgment is not just a sentence; it is a stern reminder that uniform and authority do not grant immunity from the law.
Custodial torture is a profound violation of human rights and a stain on our democracy. While the death penalty remains a subject of intense debate, the court’s decision to hold these officers accountable and provide substantial compensation reflects a commitment to restorative justice for a family that lost everything to state-sponsored violence. We hope this serves as a turning point for systemic police reforms across the country.
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Central Bureau of Investigation (@CBIHeadquarters) posts, "Court Sentences 9 Police Personnel to Death Penalty in Sathankulam Custodial Torture and Death Case." pic.twitter.com/lAwc983kiE
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 7, 2026
