Society

Sathankulam Custodial Deaths: Timeline of Justice and Trial

P. Jayaraj, 59, and his son J. Bennix, 31, were taken to Sathankulam police station on 19 June 2020 over a lockdown-hours complaint and beaten in custody. Benn…

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The detention

Father and son taken to the station

Police took trader P. Jayaraj from his family's mobile phone shop in Sathankulam over a lockdown-hours complaint. His son J. Bennix followed him to the station. Both wer…

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The remand

Certified fit, remanded unseen

A doctor certified the injured men fit, a magistrate remanded them without examining them, and they were taken to Kovilpatti sub-jail.

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The deaths

Two deaths in a few hours

Bennix, 31, died at about 9 pm on 22 June at the Kovilpatti government hospital. Jayaraj, 59, died there at about 4:30 am on 23 June. Protests spread across Tamil Nadu.

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The courts

The High Court takes charge

It took suo motu notice, ordered video post-mortems, put revenue officials in charge of the police station and told the CB-CID to investigate at once.

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Arrests and the CBI

Ten police personnel arrested

The CB-CID arrested the inspector, sub-inspectors, head constables and constables of the station. The CBI took over on 7 July. One officer, Pauldurai, later died of COVI…

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Charge sheet

Nine charged with murder

The CBI charged nine police personnel with conspiracy, murder, wrongful confinement and destroying evidence. A charge sheet is an allegation, not a verdict.

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The long trial

Deadlines set, deadlines missed

The High Court set a six-month deadline in March 2021 and a three-month one in April 2023. The Supreme Court refused the accused bail. More than 50 witnesses were examin…

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The verdict

All nine convicted and sentenced to death

A Madurai sessions court convicted all nine of murder on 23 March 2026 and sentenced them to death on 6 April, calling it a rarest of rare case.

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Where it stands

Appeal in the High Court

No. The Madras High Court must confirm it, and it is hearing the appeals with the death-sentence reference. No ruling had been reported by 24 October 2026.

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