MADURAI: After the death penalty imposed on nine police personnel for the custodial death of P Jeyaraj and his son Beniks was referred to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court for approval, the court, on Friday, issued notice to the convicts. A bench comprising justices N Anand Venkatesh and KK Ramakrishnan gave the direction after the death penalties were referred to the HC for approval.
The judges also sought to know whether any of the convicts — then inspector S Sridhar; sub-inspectors P Ragu Ganesh and K Balakrishnan; head constables S Murugan and A Samidurai; and constables M Muthuraja, S Veil Muthu, S Chelladurai and X Thomas Francis — have preferred appeals against the conviction and death sentence. The bench adjourned the case to April 30 and directed the convicts to inform the court of any steps taken to file appeals.
According to the prosecution, trader Jeyaraj was taken to the police station on June 19, 2020, for allegedly keeping his mobile shop open beyond curfew hours during the Covid-19 pandemic. When his son Beniks reached the station seeking his release, a quarrel broke out after police allegedly abused Jeyaraj. The father and son were then subjected to custodial torture through the night. Beniks died at the Government Kovilpatti Hospital on June 22, 2020, and Jeyaraj succumbed a day later.
After a trial spanning over six years, the 1st Additional District and Sessions Judge, Madurai, G Muthukumaran, sentenced all nine policemen to death on April 6. As per procedure, death sentences awarded by trial courts require confirmation by the HC before execution.
