Published Mar 23, 2026 | 6:21 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 23, 2026 | 6:22 PM
J Beniks (left) and P Jayaraj.
Synopsis: Initially investigated by the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID), the case was later transferred to the CBI. Over 100 witness statements were consolidated into 53 in the almost six-year-old case.
The First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai on Monday, 23 March, found all nine police personnel guilty in the sensational Sathankulam custodial deaths case.
P Jayaraj and his son J Benicks were tortured to death at the Sathankulam police station in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district in June 2020.
Former Inspector S Sridhar, Sub-Inspectors P Raghu Ganesh, and K Balakrishna, Head Constables S Murugan and A Saamidurai, and Constables M Muthuraj, S Chelladurai, X Thomas Francis and S Veluthu. Judge G Muthukumaran will pronounce the quantum of sentence on 30 March.
One of the accused, Special Sub-Inspector Pauldurai, had died of Covid-19.
According to the CBI chargesheet, the father and son were subjected to brutal custodial torture by the police, which was the primary cause of their deaths.
Delivering the verdict, Judge Muthukumaran observed that the injuries sustained by Jayaraj and Benicks were unnatural and sufficient to cause death. The court affirmed that the injuries were inflicted by police personnel and could not have been self-inflicted.
The judge noted that the postmortem examination, which was fully videographed, revealed severe internal injuries caused by repeated assault. Despite appearing outwardly minor, the internal injuries indicated sustained and brutal physical abuse.
The CBI chargesheet said that Benicks had told his relatives that he was beaten continuously throughout the night, with intervals of about 10 minutes, and was assaulted over 200 times. The court also recorded that the victims were tied with ropes, suspended, and assaulted, and were also beaten while being made to lie on a table.
The court further observed that the assault was carried out on the instructions of the first accused, Sridhar. It also noted that one of the accused stood outside the police station to monitor if anyone was approaching while the assault was taking place.
In a shocking observation, the court recorded that some police personnel allegedly remarked that they had “found a father and son to practice beating,” indicating the extent of brutality involved.
The court also found that the case initially registered against Jayaraj and Benicks was false. Crucial evidence, including blood-stained clothes worn by the victims, was not properly seized. Instead, police allegedly handed over the clothes to relatives and instructed them to dispose of them, thereby obstructing the investigation.
After examining all evidence and testimonies, the court concluded that the charges framed by the CBI were proven beyond doubt and held all accused guilty.
The court has directed the central and state governments to file reports on the health condition, personal details, and salary particulars of the convicted individuals.
On the night of 22 June 2020, news broke out that Benicks had died in custody after being brutally assaulted by the personnel at the Sathankulam Police Station. The next morning, his father, Jayaraj, also succumbed to similar injuries in custody.
It all began on 19 June that year, when Sathankulam police summoned Jayaraj for allegedly keeping his mobile phone accessories shop open beyond the permitted time during the Covid-19 lockdown. He was assaulted in the station.
When his son Benicks went to the police station to question them, he was also taken into custody and allegedly tortured throughout the night. The father-son duo eventually died due to multiple internal injuries.
These policemen were made arrested following an inquiry by Judge Barathidasan of the Kovilpatti Criminal Sessions Court and the testimony of Sathankulam Head Constable Revathi.
Initially investigated by the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID), the case was later transferred to the CBI.
Over 100 witness statements were consolidated into 53, and the case is currently being heard by the 1st Additional District Judge (ADJ) at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
Jayaraj and Selvarani had three daughters and a son. After the deaths, the entire family was forced to leave Sathankulam and relocate to another district.
Benicks’s friends were key witnesses, as they were present outside the police station on the night of 19 June 2020.
