9 Indian Policemen Sentenced To Death Over Killing Of Father, Son In Custody

An Indian court has sentenced nine police officers to death over the 2020 custodial torture and killing of a father and son accused of violating COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

The verdict was delivered by an additional district court in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, which found the officers guilty in the deaths of trader Jeyaraj, 59, and his son, Benniks, 31. The ruling was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

According to the agency, the court described the case as a “clear instance of abuse of authority” and classified it among the “rarest of rare” cases, warranting capital punishment. The sentencing was handed down on Monday.

The victims were arrested for allegedly keeping their mobile phone shop open beyond permitted hours during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Reports indicated that they were taken into custody and subjected to severe torture in detention.

The incident sparked widespread outrage across India, with growing calls for accountability over police brutality. In response, the Tamil Nadu government transferred the case to the CBI, which filed charges against the nine officers within 90 days.

During the trial, prosecutors presented testimonies from over 50 witnesses, arguing that the killings had “shaken public conscience” and justified the maximum penalty. The court convicted all nine officers of murder and destruction of evidence.

While India retains the death penalty, executions are rare. The most recent took place in March 2020, when four men convicted in the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case were executed by hanging.

AFP