Justice Served: Custodial Deaths Verdict in Sathankulam Case

In a landmark verdict, a local court found nine policemen guilty of custodial torture resulting in the deaths of P Jayaraj and his son J Benicks in Sathankulam, Tamil Nadu. The ruling came on Monday, ending a closely watched trial that began in 2020, fueled by public outrage over the alleged abuses.

Judge G Muthukumaran of the First Additional District and Sessions Court declared that all accused were guilty after the prosecution successfully argued its case. The much-anticipated sentence, determining the extent of punishment for the convicted officers, will be pronounced on March 30.

The incident in June 2020 initially attracted attention when Jayaraj and Benicks were detained for allegedly violating COVID-19 restrictions. Their deaths in custody sparked widespread protests and led to an extensive investigation first by the CB-CID, followed by a comprehensive probe by the CBI involving numerous witnesses and a lengthy charge sheet.