Justice Awaits in Sathankulam Custodial Death Case

A district court has postponed the sentencing of nine police officers convicted in the 2020 Sathankulam double custodial death case. Judge Muthukumaran reserved the sentencing order after hearing arguments from both the CBI and defense, as well as emotional appeals from the victims' families. The CBI seeks maximum penalties.

A district court postponed the sentencing of nine policemen convicted in the high-profile 2020 Sathankulam double custodial death case. The court will pronounce the quantum of their sentences on April 6. Judge Muthukumaran reserved the sentencing after hearing intense legal arguments and emotional appeals from victims' families.

The convicted officers included Inspector Sridhar and Sub-Inspectors Balakrishnan and Raghu Ganesh, among others. They are charged with the brutal torture and killing of traders P Jayaraj and his son J Bennicks during the Covid-19 lockdown, a crime described by the prosecution as one of the 'rarest of rare' cases.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is pushing for either a death sentence or life imprisonment without parole, citing severe human rights violations. With over 100 witnesses and extensive documentation, the case has shocked the nation, drawing attention to police brutality and accountability.

(With inputs from agencies.)