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{{Short description|Deaths in custody in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox event
| title = Death of P. Jayaraj and J. Bennix
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| image_upright =
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| native_name =
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| english_name =
| time = 7:45 PM [[Indian Standard Time|IST]], [[UTC+05:30]]
| duration = 
| date = {{start and end dates|2020|06|19|2020|06|23}}
| venue =
| location = [[Sathankulam]], [[Thoothukudi]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| coordinates = 
| also_known_as =
| type =
| theme =
| cause =
| motive =
| target =
| first_reporter =
| filmed_by =
| participants =
| outcome =
| reported deaths = '''P. Jayaraj''' (age 59) '''J. Bennix''' (age 31)
| reported injuries =
| reported missing =
| reported property damage =
| burial =
| inquiries =
| inquest = Three doctors conducted post-mortem in the presence of the judicial magistrate. The entire procedure was video-recorded.
| coroner =
| arrests = Sreedhar Balakrishnan Raghu Ganesh Murugan Muthu Raja Samadurai Chelladurai Thomas Francis Veilumuthu Pauldurai (died of Covid August 2020)
| accused =
| convicted = Sreedhar Balakrishnan Raghu Ganesh Murugan Muthu Raja Samadurai Chelladurai Thomas Francis Veilumuthu
| charges =
| blank_label = Reason for arrest
| blank_data = Wrong confinement of Lockdown Violation<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|date=2021-02-14|title=Trial on Wrong confinement and murder:Hyndustani times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-custodial-death-case-trial-begins-after-eight-months-101613647994039-amp.html|access-date=2021-04-20|website=Christiani times|language=en}}</ref>
| trial = Started on 18th February 2021<ref name="auto"/>
| verdict = 6 April 2026
| convictions =
| sentence = [[Capital punishment in India|Death]]
| publication_bans =
| litigation =
| awards =
| url =
| notes =
}}
The arrest of shopkeepers '''P. Jayaraj''' (59 years old) and his son '''J. Bennix''' (also spelled '''Fennix''', '''Benniks''') (31 years old) by the Tamil Nadu Police in [[Sathankulam]], [[Thoothukudi district]] on 19 June 2020 and their subsequent sexual and physical abuse in custody resulted in their deaths three days later. The incident sparked strikes and protests by [[Sathankulam]] shopkeepers against [[police brutality]], attracting significant media coverage and celebrity attention.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-06-27 |title=Tamil Nadu Can't Turn Blind Eye to Police Torture: Amnesty India |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/tamil-nadu-cant-turn-blind-eye-to-police-torture-amnesty-india-sathankulam-thoothukudi-police-brutality-jayaraj |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804020144/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/tamil-nadu-cant-turn-blind-eye-to-police-torture-amnesty-india-sathankulam-thoothukudi-police-brutality-jayaraj |archive-date=4 August 2020 |access-date=2020-06-28 |newspaper=The Quint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-06-27|title="India's George Floyds": Father-son death in police custody sparks outrage|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-police-crime-idUSKBN23Y0FB|access-date=2020-06-28}}</ref> The incident shone a light on the impunity of provincial policing in Tamil Nadu; the complicity of the courts in turning a blind eye to police corruption; the involvement of the members of the community policing initiative "Friends of the Police" in acts of police brutality; and the negligence of doctors conducting medical inspections of detainees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jayarajan |first=Sreedevi |date=8 June 2021 |title=Rajkumar,‌ ‌Jayaraj‌, ‌Bennix‌: How‌ ‌doctors‌ ‌failed‌ ‌‌these three custodial‌ death victims ‌ |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/rajkumar-jayaraj-bennix-how-doctors-failed-these-three-custodial-death-victims-150281 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917001330/https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/rajkumar-jayaraj-bennix-how-doctors-failed-these-three-custodial-death-victims-150281 |archive-date=17 September 2024 |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=The News Minute}}</ref> In response to the outrage compensation was paid to affected family members; nine police officers were arrested, the remainder transferred to new locations, government support for the [[Friends of Police|Friends of the Police]] organisation revoked, and an inquiry into the event handed over to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]].
On 6 April 2026 sessions court judge G Muthukumaran awarded the death penalty to all 9 convicted police officers <ref>{{Cite web | date=2026-04-07 | title=Sathankulam custodial deaths of father-son duo: Madurai court awards death sentence to 9 cops | url=https://timesofindia.com/articleshow/130061312.cms}}</ref>

==Arrest and custodial deaths==

=== Friday, 19 June ===
On 19 June 2020, at 7:30 pm Jayaraj was arrested at his workshop in Kamarajar Chowk by Sub-Inspector Balakrishnan, Inspector S Sridhar, Police Constable M. Muthuraja and other officials following an argument with police over allegations of violating COVID restrictions on trading hours (some reports state that their shop was open 15 minutes after curfew).

Between 7:30 and 7:45pm, Jayaraj's son Bennix<ref>{{Cite web |author=Adrian |date=2026-04-07 |title=Sattankulam Case: 9 Cops Get Death Sentence Verdict |url=https://factfilterhub.com/post/sattankulam-custodial-death-case-from-2020-torture-to-2026-death-sentences |access-date=2026-04-07 |website=Fact Filter Hub |language=en}}</ref>, who had a mobile stand near the Kamarajar statue, was told of his father's arrest, and went to the police station with a friend. Bennix was called in by the police while he was waiting outside. Once inside, he saw his father being pushed to the floor by Sub inspector Balakrishnan and beaten<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=26 June 2020 |title=Justice for Jayaraj and Bennix: Timeline of two shocking custodial deaths in TN |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/justice-jayaraj-fenix-bennix-timeline-two-shocking-custodial-deaths-tn-127424 |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=The News Minute}}</ref> resulting in an altercation between Bennix and Balakrishnan and police constable M. Muthuraja. The police subsequently confined Bennix inside the police station, and commenced beating him along with his father from 7:45pm, denying access to lawyers and friends who had gathered outside the police station. These witnesses reported that they heard the police shout "How you dare speak against the police".

The [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] chargesheet would state that the door of the police station was locked, with both Jayaraj and Bennix being subjected to several rounds of beatings and torture from 7:45 pm and 3 am the next day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-27 |title=TN Father-son Duo, Killed in Police Custody, Was Tortured for Over 7 Hours, Reveals CBI Chargesheet |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/tn-father-son-duo-killed-in-police-custody-was-tortured-for-over-7-hours-reveals-cbi-chargesheet-3011255.html |access-date=2020-10-30 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 October 2020 |title=Jayaraj-Benniks custodial deaths: Father, son were tortured for 7 hours, made to clean blood, says CBI |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/tamil-nadu-custodial-deaths-father-son-were-tortured-for-7-hours-made-to-clean-blood-says-cbi-6023301.html |access-date=2020-10-30 |website=Moneycontrol |language=en-US}}</ref> The first round continued until 9:45pm. Eyewitness would later report that violence inside the police station escalated after 11:30pm when Sub-Inspector Raghu Ganesh arrived. As per the CBI investigation, whenever there was a silence, the inspector used to urge the staff by asking about reasons for silence and thereby instigating them to start fresh rounds of beating. Police volunteers present inside the station also allegedly started assaulting the duo. During the ordeal, the clothes of victims were removed to add to the brutality of torture.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |author=Akshaya Nath |date=27 October 2020 |title=Tuticorin custodial deaths: Father-son duo brutally tortured, made to clean their own blood, says forensic report |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tuticorin-custodial-deaths-father-son-jayaraj-benniks-brutally-tortured-blood-walls-cbi-forensic-report-1735390-2020-10-27 |access-date=2020-10-30 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> DNA samples from the blood splatters on the walls and floor of the room would later provide evidence of the brutal beating.<ref name="auto1"/>

=== Saturday, 20 June ===
On the morning of 20 June, the police took Jayaraj and Bennix to Kovilpatti Hospital for medical fitness testing. In spite of requiring a change of six [[Lungi|''lungis'']] due to the profuse bleeding from their rectums, a medical fitness certificate was provided by Doctor Vennila.

After that, they were taken to Sathankulam Magistrate D Saravanan, who remanded the injured duo in custody without examining their physical condition or speaking with them directly as the result of COVID protocols. D. Saravanan came out and stood at the balcony of his house when the team of police were standing around Jayaraj and Bennix at the entrance. Without following the protocol to examine for potential police brutality, D.Saravanan waved his hands to the police to take them away.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kaveri|first=Megha|date=26 June 2020|title=Justice for Jayaraj and Bennix: Timeline of two shocking custodial deaths in TN|work=The News Minute|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/justice-jayaraj-fenix-bennix-timeline-two-shocking-custodial-deaths-tn-127424|access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref> The two victims were subsequently taken to [[Kovilpatti]] sub-jail, located 100km from [[Sathankulam]]. Lawyers were not allowed to meet Bennix or his father until the evening of 20 June.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Thoothukudi: Outrage after father, son die in police custody |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/thoothukudi-outrage-father-son-die-police-custody-200627093900227.html |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref>

=== Sunday-Tuesday, 21-23 June ===
On 22 June 2020, while Bennix was undergoing treatment at Government Hospital, Kovilpatti, he died at 9:00 pm, due to heavy [[internal bleeding]]. P. Jayaraj was admitted at Government Hospital, Kovilpatti by the authorities of Sub Jail, Kovilpatti on the same day at 10:30 pm.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-377084.pdf|journal=The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court|pages=8|title=Suo Motu W.P. (MD) No.7042 of 2020}}</ref> At 4:30am on the following day, P. Jayaraj died while undergoing treatment for a [[Pneumothorax|punctured lung]].<ref name="auto2"/>

The same evening of Jayaraj's death protests began amongst Sathankulam shopkeepers and the public began, spreading to the rest of [[Tamil Nadu]] the following day and resulting in the first media coverage of the incident.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaveri |first=Megha |date=26 June 2020 |title=Justice for Jayaraj and Bennix: Timeline of two shocking custodial deaths in TN |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/justice-jayaraj-fenix-bennix-timeline-two-shocking-custodial-deaths-tn-127424 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309092235/https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/justice-jayaraj-fenix-bennix-timeline-two-shocking-custodial-deaths-tn-127424 |archive-date=9 March 2024 |access-date=17 September 2024 |work=The News Minute}}</ref>

== Response to the incident ==

=== Police response ===
Following protests and media coverage of the deaths, on 24 June, the Police Department suspended two sub inspectors and an inspector and transferred all Sathankulam police to other locations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2020 |title=Sathankulam station inspector Sridhar suspended over custodial deaths |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sathankulam-station-inspector-sridhar-suspended-over-custodial-deaths-127538 |access-date=2020-06-29 |website=www.thenewsminute.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Vignessh |date=2020-06-23 |title=Tension grips TN's Tuticorin district due to custodial death of father-son duo |url=https://thefederal.com/states/south/tamil-nadu/tension-grips-tns-tuticorin-district-due-to-custodial-death-of-father-son-duo/ |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=The Federal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=M. K. Ananth |date=23 June 2020 |title=Sathankulam News: Custodial deaths of father-son duo spark tension in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/custodial-deaths-of-father-son-duo-spark-tension-in-tamil-nadus-tuticorin/articleshow/76526428.cms |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

=== Intervention by the Madras High Court ===
In response to public outrage, the Madurai bench of [[Madras High Court]] took ''[[Sua sponte|suo motu]]'' cognizance of the matter and on 24 June, a bench consisting of Justices P.N. Prakash and B. Pugalendhi called the Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi before the court. The court ordered the Superintendent to inquire into the incident and submit an interim status report within two days.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tamil Nadu: Social Media Outrage, Protests Over Brutal Thoothukudi Custodial Deaths|url=https://thewire.in/rights/tamil-nadu-protests-thoothukudi-custodial-deaths|access-date=2020-06-28|website=The Wire}}</ref> The order included a requirement to videograph the [[autopsy]], which was to be done by a panel of three experts in the presence of a magistrate<ref>{{Cite news|author=M. K. Ananth|title=Man, son die in custody: Relatives, traders complain of police torture in Tamil Nadu |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/man-son-die-in-custody-relatives-traders-complain-of-police-torture/articleshow/76539691.cms|access-date=2020-06-29|website=The Times of India|date=24 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> after the police completed its inquest proceedings.

Copies of both reports of the [[autopsy]] and inquest were submitted to the high court. The [[State Human Rights Commission Tamil Nadu]] took ''[[suo motu]]'' cognizance of the offence and asked the Police Department to file a reply in this regard.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Vignessh|date=2020-06-24|title=Sexual torture inflicted on father-son in TN police custody: Witnesses|url=https://thefederal.com/states/south/tamil-nadu/sexual-torture-inflicted-on-father-son-duo-before-death-in-tn-eyewitnesses/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=The Federal|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Reaction on social media ===
{{quote box
| width = 30em
| align = right
| quote = ” Reeling from what I'm hearing. Absolutely stunned, sad, and angry. No human being deserves such brutality, whatever be their crime. The guilty must not be allowed to go unpunished. We need facts. I cannot even begin to imagine what the family must be going through. Sending strength and prayers. We need to use our collective voices to seek #JusticeForJayarajandBennicks”
| source = — [[Priyanka Chopra]] wrote on '' Twitter '' <ref>{{Cite web|title=Priyanka Chopra condemns alleged custodial deaths of father-son in Tuticorin|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2020/jun/27/priyanka-chopra-condemns-alleged-custodial-deaths-of-father-son-in-tuticorin-2162142.html|access-date=2020-06-29|website=The New Indian Express|date=27 June 2020 }}</ref>
}}

Celebrities, politicians, and several notable people used social media to reveal the details of the attack and condemn the police action. Within three days of the deaths hundreds of thousands of tweets were sent out using the hashtag "#JusticeforJayarajandBennix", which was among the top Twitter topics trending in India on 26 June 2020 and among the top 30 trending globally.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-06-27 |title='India's George Floyds': Father-son death in police custody sparks outrage |url=https://in.reuters.com/article/india-police-crime-idINKBN23Y0FH |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628183642/https://in.reuters.com/article/india-police-crime-idINKBN23Y0FH |archive-date=28 June 2020 |access-date=2020-06-28 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-06-27 |title=Tamil Nadu Can't Turn Blind Eye to Police Torture: Amnesty India |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/tamil-nadu-cant-turn-blind-eye-to-police-torture-amnesty-india-sathankulam-thoothukudi-police-brutality-jayaraj |access-date=2020-06-28 |newspaper=Thequint |language=en}}</ref> Celebrities, including [[Ravichandran Ashwin]], [[Shikhar Dhawan]], [[Suchitra]], [[Siddharth (actor)|Siddharth]], [[Khushbu Sundar|Khushbu]], [[Jayam Ravi]], [[Karthik Subbaraj]], [[D. Imman]], [[Suriya]] used the hashtag.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Janani K. |date=26 June 2020 |title=Tuticorin custodial death: Khushbu to Jayam Ravi, celebs demand justice |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/tuticorin-custodial-death-khushbu-to-jayam-ravi-celebs-demand-justice-1692861-2020-06-26 |access-date=2020-06-29 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 June 2020 |title=Indian cricketers Rahhvichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan call for justice in Tamil Nadu custodial death case |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2020/jun/27/indian-cricketers-ravichandran-ashwin-shikhar-dhawan-call-for-justice-in-tamil-nadu-custodial-death-2162203.html |access-date=2020-06-29 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> [[Jignesh Mevani]], a social activist and lawyer from Gujarat in western India, wrote on Twitter that "The [[George Floyd]] of India are far too many".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-06-27 |title='India's George Floyds': Father-Son Death in Police Custody Sparks Outrage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/27/world/asia/27reuters-india-police-crime.html |access-date=2020-06-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |agency=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 June 2020 |title='India's George Floyds': Father-son death in police custody sparks outrage |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/indias-george-floyds-father-son-death-in-police-custody-sparks-outrage-6217491.htm |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=cnbctv18.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Film director [[Hari (director)|Hari]] issued a statement condemning police brutality and expressing regret for glorifying policemen in five of his films.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2020 |title=Regret glorifying police brutality: Director Hari |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/jun/29/regret-glorifying-police-brutality-director-hari-2162762.html |access-date=2020-06-29 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-06-29 |title=Govt. action in custodial deaths case insufficient: Kamal Haasan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/govt-action-in-custodial-deaths-case-insufficient-kamal-haasan/article31941597.ece |access-date=2020-06-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Government response ===
[[Kanimozhi]], [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]] for the Thoothukudi Constituency said the incident was a collective failure of police and other officials and a gross violation of human rights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-26 |title=DMK MP Kanimozhi writes to NHRC over 'custodial death' of shopkeeper, son |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/dmk-mp-kanimozhi-writes-to-nhrc-over-custodial-death-of-shopkeeper-son-6477250/ |access-date=2020-06-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-26 |title=COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu: Kanimozhi writes to NHRC over custodial deaths; 3000 TASMAC outlets to have CCTV cameras |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/covid-19-in-tamil-nadu-updates-6477931/ |access-date=2020-06-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> On 24 June 2020, [[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]] issued a public statement stating that Jayaraj and his son Bennix had died due to illness.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2020-07-01 |title=CM has lost moral responsibility to rule: Stalin |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/cm-lost-moral-responsibility-to-rule-stalin/article31958549.ece |access-date=2026-04-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=‘Restrain TN CM from holding home ministry till completion of custody death probe' |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/07/03/restrain-tn-cm-from-holding-home-ministry-till-custody-death-probe-is-complete.html |access-date=2026-04-07 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref> On 25 June 2020, Palaniswami announced a solatium of ₹10 lakh each to their family and stated that a government job would be provided to one family member of the deceased.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-06-25 |title=₹10 lakh solatium for Sattankulam victims |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/10-lakh-solatium-forsattankulam-victims/article31910147.ece |access-date=2026-04-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> On 28 June, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Palaniswami directed that the inquest into the deaths be handed over to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-06-28 |title=Sattankulam custodial deaths: CBI will investigate the case, says Tamil Nadu CM |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/sattankulam-custodial-deaths-tn-decides-to-hand-over-probe-to-cbi-says-palaniswami/article31938757.ece |access-date=2020-06-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Will seek permission from Court to transfer Tuticorin custodial death case to CBI: Palaniswami |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/will-seek-permission-from-court-to-transfer-tuticorin-custodial-death-case-to-cbi-palaniswami20200628210904/ |access-date=2020-06-29 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref>

===Judicial inquiry===

{{quote box
| width = 27em
| align = right
| quote = ” What has happened in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district is worse than the [[2012 Delhi gang rape and murder|Nirbhaya case]] for which four persons involved were hanged early this year. ”
| source = — Retired Judge of Supreme Court of India [[Markandey Katju]] wrote on '' [[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] '' <ref>{{Cite web|title=OPINION: Thoothukudi police violence case worse than Nirbhaya|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/06/28/opinion-thoothukudi-police-violence-case-worse-than-nirbhaya.html|access-date=2020-06-29|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref>
}}

During the pendency of the autopsy inquiry, [[Magistrate]] M S Bharathidasan submitted a report to the High Court describing ''[[Rudeness|rude]] behaviour'' by Constable Maharajan at the Sathankulam police station. In the report, the Magistrate said Constable Maharajan made a “very disparaging remark” against him in the presence of D Kumar, [[Superintendent of police (India)|Additional Superintendent of Police]] and C Prathapan, [[Deputy superintendent of police|Deputy Superintendent of Police]], even as policemen at the station recorded the videos of the proceeding.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-29|title=Police used disparaging remarks: JM probing father, son custodial deaths|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/police-used-disparaging-remarks-jm-probing-father-son-custodial-deaths-855180.html|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref>

Following the complaint, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court began a suo motu [[contempt of court]] proceeding and ordered the [[Police ranks and insignia of India|Inspector General of Police]] for the South Zone to take action against the officers. The Inspector General suspended Maharajan; D Kumar, ADSP, and C Prathapan, DSP was moved to a waiting list. The High Court also directed the Thoothukudi district collector to depute revenue officials and take control of the police station to enable the magistrate to collect the necessary documents. This incident represents the first time in the [[Indian Police Service#History|history of Indian Police]] that a district administration had seized control of a police station. The judges further directed the Additional Director of Forensic Sciences department to send a team of experts to collect materials from the station.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sathankulam police not cooperating with judicial inquiry; HC orders revenue officials to take control of police station|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/jun/29/sathankulam-police-not-cooperating-with-judicial-inquiry-hc-orders-revenue-officials-to-take-contro-2162949.html|access-date=2020-06-30|website=The New Indian Express|date=29 June 2020 }}</ref>

{{clear}}

==CBI Investigation ==
[[Central Bureau of Investigation]] had registered two cases on 7 July 2020 related to the allegations of custodial death. On the request of Tamil Nadu Government & further notification from Govt of India, and taken over the investigation of both the cases, earlier registered vide Crime no. 649 & 650 at Police Station Kovilpatti. A CBI team camped continuously at Madurai and worked in the case during COVID-19 pandemic. During the investigation 10 police officials including Inspector/SHO, 3 Sub inspector, 2 HC, 4 Constables, all of Sathankulam Police Station were arrested. The CBI had filed a chargesheet on 26 September 2020 against all arrested police officials U/s 120-B of IPC r/w sections 302, 342, 201, 182, 193, 211, 218 & 34 & substantive offences. One more accused, Sub Inspector Palthurai died during investigation due to COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CBI Files a Chargesheet in Two Cases Related to Death of Two Traders in Tamil Nadu |url=http://www.cbi.gov.in/pressreleases/pr_2020-09-26-1.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031074600/http://www.cbi.gov.in/pressreleases/pr_2020-09-26-1.php |archive-date=2020-10-31 |access-date=2026-04-24 |website=Central Bureau of Investigation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Akshaya Nath|title=Tuticorin custodial deaths: Father-son duo brutally tortured, made to clean their own blood, says forensic report|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tuticorin-custodial-deaths-father-son-jayaraj-benniks-brutally-tortured-blood-walls-cbi-forensic-report-1735390-2020-10-27|access-date=2020-10-30|website=India Today|date=27 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==Court verdicts==
{{Quote box
| quote = The case was a rare one where the police officers, who were obligated to maintain law and order, had themselves acted against the law and brutally assaulted the father and son, who did not have any criminal case against them.

— the presiding judge, G. Muthukumaran.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sajeev |first=Upasana |date=2026-04-06 |title=Sathankulam Custodial Deaths Case: Madurai Court Awards Death Penalty To All Nine Police Officers |url=https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/sathankulam-custodial-death-nine-police-officers-sentenced-to-death-529197 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=Livelaw|language=en}}</ref>
| source =
| align = right
| width = 27em
}}

On 23 March 2026, a special court in [[Madurai]] convicted all 9 [[Tamil Nadu Police|police]] personnel involved in the case.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 March 2026 |title=All 9 Cops Convicted In Tamil Nadu Father-Son Custodial Death Case. |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/all-9-cops-convicted-in-tamil-nadu-father-son-custodial-death-case-11255763 |access-date=23 March 2026 |work=NDTV}}</ref> On 6 April 2026, the First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai sentenced nine police personnel to [[Capital punishment in India|death]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-04-06 |title=Sathankulam custodial deaths of father-son duo: Madurai court awards death sentence to all nine accused cops |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/sathankulam-custodial-deaths-nine-cops-sentenced-to-death/articleshow/130061312.cms |access-date=2026-04-06 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-04-06 |title=Sattankulam Jayaraj-Benicks custodial deaths case: All nine policemen sentenced to death |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/sattankulam-jayaraj-benicks-custodial-deaths-case-all-nine-policemen-sentenced-to-death/article70830300.ece |access-date=2026-04-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The court also ordered the officers to collectively pay compensation amounting to ₹1.40 crore to the family of the deceased.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sajeev |first=Upasana |date=2026-04-06 |title=Sathankulam Custodial Deaths Case: Madurai Court Awards Death Penalty To All Nine Police Officers |url=https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/sathankulam-custodial-death-nine-police-officers-sentenced-to-death-529197 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
On 23 June 2020, members of the public staged a road blockade in Sathankulam, demanding that murder charges be registered against Sub-Inspectors Balakrishnan and Pauldurai. [[Anitha R. Radhakrishnan|Anita R. Radhakrishnan]], the MLA for [[Tiruchendur]], participated in the protest and supported the demand. [[M. K. Stalin]], then Leader of the Opposition, sought an explanation from Chief Minister [[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]]. [[K. S. Alagiri]], president of the [[Tamil Nadu Congress Committee]], called for an inquiry by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-06-23 |title=Tension prevails in Tamil Nadu’s Sattankulam as trader, son held during lockdown die |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/father-son-die-in-judicial-custody-in-sattankulam-tension-prevails/article31897154.ece |access-date=2026-04-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> On 1 July 2020, Stalin criticised Palaniswami for his earlier statement that the two had died due to illness, alleging that the remark suppressed facts surrounding the deaths.<ref name=":1" /> On 8 July 2020, the Office of the [[Additional Chief Secretary]] issued an order disbanding the [[Friends of Police]] movement in the whole of Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 July 2020|title=Government Orders Portal|url=https://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/go/hpe_e_156_2020_2D.pdf|access-date=10 July 2020|website=Government of Tamil Nadu}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Police brutality]]
*[[List of cases of police brutality in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Custodial death}}
[[Category:Deaths in police custody in India]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Police misconduct in India]]
[[Category:Police brutality in the 2020s]]
[[Category:Rape in India]]
[[Category:Rape of males]]
[[Category:Prisoner abuse]]
[[Category:Violence against men in India]]
[[Category:Police brutality in India]]
[[Category:Extrajudicial killings in India]]

Death of P. Jayaraj and J. Bennix - Revision history

AndrewJordan: New - done