Madurai Court to Deliver Sentences for Nine Cops in 2020 Custodial Death Case on April 6
The first additional district and sessions court in Madurai is set to pronounce sentences on April 6 for nine police personnel convicted in the high-profile custodial deaths of traders P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks. The tragic incident occurred in Sathankulam, located in Tuticorin district, back in 2020, sparking widespread outrage and calls for justice.
Court Receives Reports on Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances
Following a prior court order, both the central and state governments submitted their detailed reports to the court on Thursday. These reports focused on the aggravating and mitigating circumstances surrounding the case, which will play a crucial role in determining the severity of the sentences.
CBI and Victims' Family Seek Maximum Punishment
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which handled the probe, strongly advocated for the maximum punishment possible for the convicts. In its submission, the CBI described the deaths of Jeyaraj and Beniks due to custodial torture at the police station as a heinous crime. The agency argued that this case falls within the rarest of rare category, warranting the harshest penalties under the law.
Echoing this stance, the counsel representing the victims' family also urged the court to impose the maximum punishment, emphasizing the need for justice and deterrence in such grave matters of police brutality.
Defense Appeals for Lighter Sentences Based on Reformation
In contrast, the defense counsel for the convicted police personnel pleaded for lighter sentences. They highlighted the reformation aspect, suggesting that the convicts should be given a chance to rehabilitate. The defense argued that there was no intention on the part of the police to cause the deaths of the father-son duo. According to their account, Jeyaraj was initially brought to the police station for inquiry, and the situation escalated only when his son Beniks arrived and intervened in the investigation.
Judge Schedules Sentencing After Hearing Arguments
After extensively hearing the arguments from all sides, Judge G Muthukumaran posted the case for the pronouncement of sentences on April 6. This development comes nearly six years after the custodial deaths, with the court having found the nine police personnel guilty of the double murder on March 23.
List of Convicted Police Personnel and a Deceased Suspect
All nine convicted cops were produced in court on Thursday. They include:
- Inspector S Sridhar
- Sub-inspectors K Balakrishnan and P Raghu Ganesh
- Head constables S Murugan and A Samadurai
- Four constables: M Muthuraja, S Chelladurai, X Thomas Francis, and S Vailmuthu
A tenth suspect, the then special sub-inspector Paldurai, who was also arrested in connection with the case, died of Covid-19 in August 2020, adding a somber note to the proceedings.
The upcoming sentencing on April 6 is being closely watched, as it represents a critical moment in the pursuit of accountability and justice for the victims of this custodial tragedy in Tamil Nadu.
