Death Penalty for Nine Police Officers in Tamil Nadu Custodial Death Case

Q: How long did the trial take?

The trial lasted five years, during which **105 witnesses** were examined.

Original: Sathankulam custodial death: Madurai court gives death penalty to 9 cops, CBI says was given case for ‘fair’ probe

Hindustan Times•Apr 7, 20263 min

In a Nutshell

A Madurai court in Tamil Nadu sentenced nine police officers to death for the custodial deaths of P Jayaraj and his son J Bennix, who were brutally assaulted in June 2020. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) handled the case after public outcry, leading to this landmark judgment nearly six years later.

Key Points

01Nine police officers received the death penalty for the custodial deaths of P Jayaraj and his son J Bennix.
02The incident occurred in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, in June 2020.
03The case was transferred to the CBI for a fair investigation following public outrage.
04The court classified the case as 'rarest of rare' and imposed a ₹1.40 crore fine for compensation.
05A total of 105 witnesses were examined during the five-year trial process.

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Full Summary

In a significant ruling, a Madurai court in Tamil Nadu sentenced nine police officers to death for their roles in the custodial deaths of P Jayaraj and his son J Bennix. The tragic events unfolded in June 2020 when the father and son were detained for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulations. They were brutally assaulted while in custody, leading to their deaths days later. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case after the Tamil Nadu government sought a fair investigation due to public outcry. The court described the actions of the police as a crime that violated the public trust and classified the case as the 'rarest of rare.' In addition to the death penalty, the court ordered the officers to pay a combined fine of ₹1.40 crore (approximately $170,000 USD) as compensation to the victims' family. The judge emphasized the need for severe punishment to deter such brutality in the future. The trial included testimonies from 105 witnesses over five years, highlighting the extensive investigation into this grievous incident.

Key Figures