Nine Tamil Nadu Police Officers Sentenced to Death for Custodial Killings

Apr 7, 2026

67 min

Apr 7, 2026 14:31

India court sentences nine police to death for Covid custody killings

## Court Verdict

In a landmark ruling, an Indian court has sentenced nine police officers to death for their involvement in the custodial deaths of a father and son during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. The additional district judge in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, found the officers guilty of torturing and killing Jeyaraj, 59, and his son Benniks, 31.

## Incident Details

The victims, who owned a mobile shop, were reportedly detained for violating lockdown restrictions by keeping their shop open beyond allowed hours. They were allegedly subjected to severe torture while in police custody, leading to their deaths.

## Legal Proceedings

The case, which sparked widespread outrage over police brutality, was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Tamil Nadu government. The CBI filed charges against the officers within 90 days and presented evidence from over 50 witnesses during the trial.

## Significance

The court described the case as a "rarest of the rare" instance of abuse of authority, justifying the severe punishment. This verdict highlights ongoing concerns about police conduct and accountability in India.

## Context

Executions in India are infrequent, with the last occurring in March 2020 when four men were hanged for a high-profile gang rape and murder case in Delhi. The current ruling underscores the judiciary's stance on severe punishment for egregious violations of human rights.

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