Sathankulam custodial deaths: Nine police personnel sentenced to death by court
First Additional District and Sessions Judge G Muthukumaran classified the case as the best of rare, observing that those tasked with protecting the public had committed a crime that shook the collective conscience of the society.
The court sentenced all nine police officers found guilty of murdering P Jayaraj and his son J Bennix to death.
In addition to the death penalty, the court imposed a fine of a total of 1.40 billion rupees on the convicts, to be paid as compensation to the families of the victims.
The tragedy dates back to the coronavirus lockdown in June 2020, when Jayaraj and Bennix were arrested for allegedly keeping mobile phone shops open beyond permitted hours. They were subjected to extreme physical assault while in custody, leading to their deaths in hospital days later.
After intense public outcry, the Madras HC took cognizance of the case and it was eventually investigated by the CBI.
