9 Policemen Get Death Penalty Over Police Brutality in Tamil Nadu
Six years after the custodial deaths of P Jayaraj and J Bennix, nine policemen have been sentenced to death, marking a landmark judgment on police brutality in India.
Nearly six years after one of India’s most shocking custodial deaths, justice has finally caught up.
In June 2020, P Jayaraj and his son J Bennix were brutally assaulted by police in Tamil Nadu for a minor lockdown violation. Days later, both succumbed to their injuries—triggering outrage across the country.
The Madras High Court stepped in immediately, ordering a monitored investigation. Soon after, the case was handed to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which uncovered chilling details—over 100 witnesses, evidence tampering, and a coordinated attempt to cover up custodial torture.
Nine policemen stood trial after one accused died during the pandemic. In March 2026, a special court found all nine guilty of murder and related charges. Weeks later, on April 6, the court delivered its final blow—death penalty for all, calling it a “rarest of rare” crime, along with ?1.4 crore compensation to the family.
For Jayaraj and Bennix’s family, the verdict brings long-awaited closure. But the case continues to raise larger questions.
Kamal Haasan has pointed to systemic failures beyond the convicted officers, urging accountability for all who enabled the cover-up. While opposing the death penalty, he called for strict life sentences instead—arguing that justice should punish the guilty without extending suffering to their families.
Today, this case stands as a powerful reminder: even those meant to uphold the law can be held accountable—and justice, though delayed, can still prevail.
