<p>Chennai: In a landmark verdict, a Madurai court on Monday awarded death sentence to all nine police personnel <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/jeyaraj-and-bennix-case-all-nine-police-officers-convicted-of-murder-3943332">convicted in the custodial death</a> of a father-son duo in Thoothukudi district in 2020.</p><p>The custodial death of 60-year-old P Jeyaraj and his son Bennix (31), who ran a retail mobile store in Sathankulam town in Thoothukudi district, sent shock waves across the country for the brutality of the crime. The duo were beaten up by about 10 policemen at the Sathankulam police station through the night of June 19, 2020 – while the son died on June 22, Jeyaraj succumbed to his injuries the following day. </p>.Custodial death toll rising, yet no anti-torture law.<p>All the 10 policemen, including inspector S Sridhar, who ordered his subordinates to beat the father-son duo, were arrested by the police with the then AIADMK government transferring the case after a major uproar. One accused police personnel – S Pauldurai – died in August 2020 after contracting Covid-19 virus at the prison. </p><p>“If ordinary citizens had committed the same crime, ordinary punishment could have been given, but the police themselves have committed the crime,” judge G Muthukumaran, first additional district and sessions Judge Muthukumaran said while delivering the judgement. The detailed order is expected to be released soon. </p><p>While pronouncing the verdict, the judge said that he is of the opinion that imposing the death penalty would be the best option, as "life imprisonment would not instill fear in the police officers."</p><p>The sentencing comes two weeks after judge Muthukumaran convicted the policemen guilty in the case and held that the father-son duo were a clear victim of custodial violence. </p>.Rare justice on custodial torture in Tamil Nadu.<p>CBI, which investigated the case, had sought maximum punishment for all the accused. Despite the case hitting national headlines, activists allege that nothing has changed in the state with over 20 alleged custodial deaths taking place in Tamil Nadu between 2021-2026. </p><p>Jeyaraj and Bennix were arrested by the Sathankulam police on June 19, 2020, for allegedly keeping their mobile shop open beyond permitted hours during the lockdown, a claim later found to be false. Bennix was a doting brother to his sisters and had a habit of talking to their children every day.</p><p>His sister, Persis, had told DH in June 2021 that she regretted not picking up Bennix’s phone call on the fateful night, thinking it was a regular call.</p><p>“I still regret not attending the phone call. If I had attended, I could have spoken to him one last time. Maybe I would have told him to be cool and not get tense about our father’s arrest. If only I had attended the call,” she had said.</p>
<p>Chennai: In a landmark verdict, a Madurai court on Monday awarded death sentence to all nine police personnel <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/jeyaraj-and-bennix-case-all-nine-police-officers-convicted-of-murder-3943332">convicted in the custodial death</a> of a father-son duo in Thoothukudi district in 2020.</p><p>The custodial death of 60-year-old P Jeyaraj and his son Bennix (31), who ran a retail mobile store in Sathankulam town in Thoothukudi district, sent shock waves across the country for the brutality of the crime. The duo were beaten up by about 10 policemen at the Sathankulam police station through the night of June 19, 2020 – while the son died on June 22, Jeyaraj succumbed to his injuries the following day. </p>.Custodial death toll rising, yet no anti-torture law.<p>All the 10 policemen, including inspector S Sridhar, who ordered his subordinates to beat the father-son duo, were arrested by the police with the then AIADMK government transferring the case after a major uproar. One accused police personnel – S Pauldurai – died in August 2020 after contracting Covid-19 virus at the prison. </p><p>“If ordinary citizens had committed the same crime, ordinary punishment could have been given, but the police themselves have committed the crime,” judge G Muthukumaran, first additional district and sessions Judge Muthukumaran said while delivering the judgement. The detailed order is expected to be released soon. </p><p>While pronouncing the verdict, the judge said that he is of the opinion that imposing the death penalty would be the best option, as "life imprisonment would not instill fear in the police officers."</p><p>The sentencing comes two weeks after judge Muthukumaran convicted the policemen guilty in the case and held that the father-son duo were a clear victim of custodial violence. </p>.Rare justice on custodial torture in Tamil Nadu.<p>CBI, which investigated the case, had sought maximum punishment for all the accused. Despite the case hitting national headlines, activists allege that nothing has changed in the state with over 20 alleged custodial deaths taking place in Tamil Nadu between 2021-2026. </p><p>Jeyaraj and Bennix were arrested by the Sathankulam police on June 19, 2020, for allegedly keeping their mobile shop open beyond permitted hours during the lockdown, a claim later found to be false. Bennix was a doting brother to his sisters and had a habit of talking to their children every day.</p><p>His sister, Persis, had told DH in June 2021 that she regretted not picking up Bennix’s phone call on the fateful night, thinking it was a regular call.</p><p>“I still regret not attending the phone call. If I had attended, I could have spoken to him one last time. Maybe I would have told him to be cool and not get tense about our father’s arrest. If only I had attended the call,” she had said.</p>