The Sathankulam custodial deaths refer to the tragic 2020 incident in Tamil Nadu where father P. Jayaraj (59) and son J. Bennix (31) died in police custody after brutal torture. Recently, in April 2026, a Madurai court sentenced nine police officers to death for their murder and evidence tampering, marking a landmark ruling on police accountability.
P. Jayaraj and Bennix ran a mobile shop in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district. On June 19, 2020, during COVID-19 lockdown, police arrested them for keeping the shop open late. Bennix was detained first after visiting the station, then his father; both endured severe physical assault using lathis inside Sathankulam police station.
They were moved to Kovilpatti sub-jail without proper medical checks, and Bennix died on June 22 from injuries; Jayaraj followed the next day.
Legal Proceedings
Public outrage led the Madras High Court to transfer the probe to the CBI, which filed charges against officers including Inspector Sridhar. After a five-year trial with over 50 witnesses, the First Additional Sessions Court convicted them of murder on March 23, 2026, and imposed death sentences on April 6 by Judge G. Muthukumaran. Forensic evidence confirmed custodial violence caused the deaths, rejecting defense claims of natural causes.
This case exposed police excesses during lockdowns and sparked national debate on custodial deaths, with 174 reported in early 2026 alone. The verdict underscores demands for stricter accountability, though appeals are likely pending.
Nine police officers from Sathankulam station were sentenced to death by a Madurai court on April 6, 2026, for the 2020 custodial murders of P. Jayaraj and J. Bennix.
Officers Convicted
The convicted individuals include one inspector and several subordinates directly involved in the torture and cover-up:
- Inspector S. Sridhar (also referred to as Inspector Sridhar), identified as a key figure fined Rs 15 lakh personally.
- Sub-Inspectors K. Balakrishnan and P. Raghuganesh (or Raghu Ganesh).
- Constables/police personnel: S. Murugan, A. Samidurai (or Samadurai), M. Muthuraja, S. Chelladurai, X. Thomas Francis, and S. Veilumuthu.
All nine were convicted of murder under IPC Section 302, wrongful confinement, and falsifying records after a CBI probe confirmed brutal assaults. They face a collective fine of over Rs 1 crore, with sentences pending High Court confirmation and appeals.
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