Sathankulam Custodial Deaths: Madurai Court Awards Death Penalty to 9 Police Personnel

In CBI v. Sridhar & Ors, the First Additional Sessions Court in Madurai has awarded the death penalty to all nine police personnel convicted in the Sathankulam custodial deaths case. The judgement marks a major development in one of India’s most disturbing custodial violence cases.

Judge G. Muthukumaran pronounced the sentence after the court had already found the accused guilty on March 23, 2026. They were convicted for murder and destruction of evidence. The detailed sentencing order was not immediately available at the time of reporting.

The case arose from the deaths of Jayaraj and his son Bennix in June 2020. The two were taken into custody during the COVID-19 lockdown for allegedly keeping their mobile phone shop open beyond the permitted time in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district.

What began as an alleged lockdown violation soon turned into a case that drew national anger. The deaths triggered widespread public outrage and renewed debate over police brutality, abuse of authority, and the treatment of persons in custody.

According to the prosecution, the incident began on June 18, 2020, when police officers allegedly behaved aggressively with people near Jayaraj’s shop. It was said that Jayaraj questioned that conduct. The next day, he was allegedly identified and taken into custody.

His son Bennix was also detained shortly after. The prosecution claimed that both men were brutally assaulted inside the Sathankulam police station. It argued that the injuries suffered during custody directly caused their deaths.

The defence gave a very different version. It maintained that the arrest followed a lockdown violation and a verbal confrontation. It denied that there was any planned assault or conspiracy among the accused officers. It also attempted to question the cause of death.

The trial court, however, rejected that line of defence. It held that the deaths were not caused by natural reasons or existing medical conditions. On the basis of medical records, forensic material, and other evidence, the court concluded that the injuries were serious and fatal.

The investigation did not remain with the local police. After intervention by the Madras High Court and growing public concern, the matter was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The CBI later filed a 2,027-page chargesheet against the accused officers.

Among those named were Inspector Sridhar and Sub-Inspectors Balakrishnan and Raghuganesh. The trial continued for more than five years. During this period, over 50 witnesses were examined, and the court considered documentary, medical, and forensic evidence in detail.

In its earlier finding on conviction, the court had already made it clear that the evidence proved custodial assault. With the sentence now pronounced, the Sathankulam case stands as one of the strongest judicial responses to custodial deaths in recent years.