The First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai is set to announce its verdict today regarding the custodial deaths of P. Jeyaraj and his son J. Beniks, which took place in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district, in 2020. The judgment is expected to be delivered by Judge G. Muthukumaran. The case has garnered significant attention due to its implications on police conduct and accountability.

Details of the Incident

P. Jeyaraj and his son were taken into custody on June 19, 2020, by the Sathankulam police under allegations related to keeping their mobile shop open despite a COVID-19 lockdown. Reports suggest that both were subjected to severe assault while at the police station that night before being remanded to the Kovilpatti sub-jail. J. Beniks, suffering from injuries, passed away on June 22, and P. Jeyaraj died the following morning.

Following the deaths, ten police officers, including Inspector Sridhar and Sub-Inspectors Balakrishnan and Raghu Ganesh, were arrested and subsequently placed in Madurai Central Prison. One of the accused, Paldurai, later died from COVID-19. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered its primary chargesheet against nine policemen on September 25, 2020, followed by a supplementary chargesheet issued on August 12, 2022.

Details of the Confrontation

Investigations indicate that J. Beniks approached the police station to challenge his father’s detention, culminating in a confrontation. It has been alleged that Inspector Sridhar ordered other officers to “teach him a lesson”, leading to severe custodial torture for both Jeyaraj and Beniks. The CBI’s investigation also highlighted efforts to destroy evidence, such as cleaning bloodstains at the police station and disposing of bloodied clothing after multiple changes.

The victims were accused under false pretenses as the investigation clarified that they had violated no lockdown regulations. P. Jeyaraj and J. Beniks were authorized for custody on June 19 and moved to the Kovilpatti sub-jail, despite their innocence regarding the alleged infraction. The case was handed over to the CBI on July 7, 2020, after the Tamil Nadu government appealed for a transfer to ensure an impartial investigation.

Initially registered at the Kovilpatti East Police Station in Thoothukudi district, the case has since seen significant legal scrutiny. The upcoming verdict is anticipated to address the serious allegations against the ten policemen involved and will mark a critical moment in the ongoing discourse about police accountability in India.

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