Nine Cops Get Double Death For Double Murder In Custody
‘Life imprisonment would not serve as adequate deterrent’
By : M. ARULOLI
Update: 2026-04-06 13:41 GMT
Madurai: The Madurai additional district and sessions court on Monday awarded double death sentences to nine convicts in the sensational Sathankulam father-son custodial murder case, terming the crime one that had “shaken the conscience of society”.
Pronouncing the judgment, judge G. Muthukumaran said the punishment must be commensurate with the gravity of the offence. He observed that had the Madras High Court not taken up the case suo motu, the matter might have been buried even before the bodies of Jeyaraj and Benniks were laid to rest.
The prosecution case was that the Sathankulam police in Thoothukudi district took Jayaraj and Benniks into custody on June 19, 2020, for allegedly keeping their mobile phone shop open beyond permitted hours by violating Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. They both succumbed to grievous injuries sustained during brutal police torture. The CBI, which investigated the case, produced several witnesses who included three eye witnesses.
Noting that the custodial killings constituted a grave violation of human dignity, the judge held that life imprisonment would not serve as an adequate deterrent to the police force. He further recorded that both the Union and the state governments had sought the maximum punishment for the accused.
The judge observed that the unarmed victims were subjected to prolonged assault throughout the night in the police station with the clear intention of killing and held that the convicts need not be given any scope for reformation. The prime accused, inspector Sridhar, was sentenced to double death penalty along with additional two prison terms of seven years under various sections and fined Rs 84.10 lakh.
The remaining eight convicts — sub-inspectors Balakrishnan and Ragu Ganesh; head constables, Murugan, Samidurai and Muthuraj; and constables Chelladurai, Thomas Francis and Veyilmuthu — were also awarded double death sentences. Proceedings against one of the accused, a special sub-inspector Pauldurai, abated as he had died during the course of the trial.
Observing that the custodial murders had uprooted the very foundation of the victims’ family, the judge directed that the total fine of Rs 1.40 crore be paid as compensation to the bereaved family. The court further ordered that in the event of non-payment, the properties of the convicts be attached to ensure that the compensation is realised.
The prosecution case was that the Sathankulam police in Thoothukudi district took Jayaraj and Benniks into custody on June 19, 2020, for allegedly keeping their mobile phone shop open beyond permitted hours by violating Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. They both succumbed to grievous injuries sustained during brutal police torture. The CBI, which investigated the case, produced several witnesses who included three eye witnesses.
Noting that the custodial killings constituted a grave violation of human dignity, the judge held that life imprisonment would not serve as an adequate deterrent to the police force. He further recorded that both the Union and the state governments had sought the maximum punishment for the accused.
The judge observed that the unarmed victims were subjected to prolonged assault throughout the night in the police station with the clear intention of killing and held that the convicts need not be given any scope for reformation. The prime accused, inspector Sridhar, was sentenced to double death penalty along with additional two prison terms of seven years under various sections and fined Rs 84.10 lakh.
The remaining eight convicts — sub-inspectors Balakrishnan and Ragu Ganesh; head constables, Murugan, Samidurai and Muthuraj; and constables Chelladurai, Thomas Francis and Veyilmuthu — were also awarded double death sentences. Proceedings against one of the accused, a special sub-inspector Pauldurai, abated as he had died during the course of the trial.
Observing that the custodial murders had uprooted the very foundation of the victims’ family, the judge directed that the total fine of Rs 1.40 crore be paid as compensation to the bereaved family. The court further ordered that in the event of non-payment, the properties of the convicts be attached to ensure that the compensation is realised.