Madurai Sessions Court Delivers Guilty Verdict in High-Profile Custodial Death Case
In a landmark judgment, a sessions court in Madurai has convicted nine police personnel for the brutal custodial deaths of a father-son duo, P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks, in June 2020. The verdict, delivered on Monday by First Additional District and Sessions Judge G Muthukumaran, marks a significant step toward justice nearly six years after the incident that shocked the nation.
Details of the Conviction and Upcoming Sentencing
Judge Muthukumaran read out the guilty verdict against all nine accused police officers, who were present in court. The convicted individuals include Inspector S Sridhar, Sub-Inspectors K Balakrishnan and P Raghu Ganesh, Head Constables S Murugan and A Samadurai, and Constables M Muthuraja, S Chelladurai, X Thomas Francis, and S Vailmuthu. A tenth suspect, former Special Sub-Inspector Paldurai, who had been arrested, died of Covid-19 in August 2020.
The court has scheduled March 30 for announcing the quantum of punishment. In preparation, Judge Muthukumaran has requested a report on the last property statements and salary certificates of the convicted officers. Following the verdict, the nine were escorted back to Madurai Central Prison.
Background of the Tragic Incident
The case dates back to June 19, 2020, when Jeyaraj and Beniks were taken into custody by Sathankulam police in Tuticorin district. They were accused of keeping their shop open beyond the Covid-19 lockdown deadline. According to investigations, the duo was subjected to severe torture at the police station overnight before being lodged in Kovilpatti sub-jail the next day.
Beniks succumbed to his injuries at Kovilpatti Government Hospital on June 22, 2020, followed by his father Jeyaraj on June 23, 2020. Their deaths sparked widespread public outrage, leading the Madras High Court to take suo motu cognizance of the custodial deaths on June 24, 2020. The case was subsequently transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 29, 2020.
CBI Investigation Unveils Horrific Details
The CBI filed its initial chargesheet against the nine policemen on September 25, 2020, with a supplementary chargesheet submitted on August 12, 2022. The investigation revealed a harrowing sequence of events:
- After Jeyaraj's detention, Beniks went to the police station to inquire about his father, leading to a scuffle with officers.
- Inspector Sridhar allegedly instructed other policemen to "teach Beniks a lesson on how to behave with police."
- Both victims were subjected to multiple rounds of torture, including being stripped and beaten with wooden lathis on their buttocks, back, and other body parts while forced to bow on a wooden table.
- Beniks was compelled to clean blood from their wounds and the police station floor with his own vest.
- Evidence was systematically destroyed: a sweeper was asked to clean bloodstains, clothes were changed twice before hospital visits, and bloodied garments were dumped in hospital dustbins.
Furthermore, the CBI concluded that Jeyaraj and Beniks had not violated lockdown norms and that no altercation occurred between them and police officials on June 19, 2020. The agency stated that a false case was registered against the duo to cover up the police brutality.
Judicial Oversight and Public Response
During the initial inquiry, the Tuticorin principal district judge reported non-cooperation from police station personnel, prompting the Madras High Court to direct the district collector to deploy revenue officers to secure the station and collect evidence. This judicial intervention was crucial in ensuring a thorough investigation.
The case has drawn significant attention to issues of police accountability and custodial violence in India. The conviction of all nine accused officers is seen as a pivotal moment in the fight against impunity within law enforcement agencies.
As the nation awaits the sentencing on March 30, this verdict serves as a stark reminder of the need for systemic reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future. The pursuit of justice for Jeyaraj and Beniks continues to resonate as a symbol of resilience against institutional abuse.
