In the high-profile Sathankulam custodial death case that shocked Tamil Nadu and the nation, the Madurai First Additional Sessions Court has sentenced nine police personnel to death for the deaths of father and son, Jayaraj and Bennix, who were allegedly assaulted in police custody in June 2020. The court, which had earlier found all the accused guilty, announced the punishment on April 6 and described the case as one of the “rarest of rare,” underscoring the gravity of custodial violence and abuse of power by law enforcement.
Background of the Case and Triggering Incident
Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district, Kovilpatti, Madurai, Jayaraj, Bennix, Sathankulam Police Station, sub-jail, government hospital.
The incident began on the night of June 19, 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, when an argument reportedly broke out between Bennix and police personnel over keeping his mobile phone shop open beyond permitted hours.
An FIR was subsequently filed against Bennix and his father Jayaraj, after which both were taken to the police station and later remanded to Kovilpatti sub-jail on June 21.
The original police version claimed the injuries were self-inflicted, but that narrative came under intense scrutiny after both men died within days.
Deaths, Public Outrage and Judicial Intervention
Bennix died on the night of June 22 after being taken to hospital, while Jayaraj died in the early hours of June 23 after also being admitted for treatment.
Their deaths triggered widespread outrage, protests by relatives and local residents, and shutdowns of shops in surrounding areas, with allegations directly pointing to police assault.
As the controversy escalated, two sub-inspectors were suspended immediately, Inspector Sridhar was later suspended, and all personnel in the station were transferred.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court took suo motu cognisance, monitored developments closely, and serious concerns were raised about non-cooperation by local police during the judicial inquiry.
CBI Probe, Trial and Sentencing
The case was later handed over to the CBI, which filed a 2,427-page chargesheet in two parts against 10 accused police personnel.
One of the accused, Baladurai, died in 2020 due to COVID-19, leaving nine to face trial before the Madurai court.
All nine were convicted and later awarded double death sentences, along with additional prison terms under various sections and heavy fines ranging from several lakhs to over Rs 24 lakh.
The verdict is being viewed as a landmark judgment in India’s legal response to custodial deaths and police excesses.
“No punishment can erase the grief of the mother; an entire family has been uprooted,” the court observed while pronouncing the sentence.
