In a landmark verdict that brings a measure of closure to a case that shook the nation, a court in Madurai awarded the death sentence to nine policemen in connection with the custodial deaths of P Jayaraj and his son J Benicks in the Thoothukudi district on Monday.
Reacting to the verdict, actor-politician Kamal Haasan issued a strong statement, condemning the brutality of the crime and calling for accountability.
“The verdict has been delivered in the case of Jeyaraj and Bennix, who were beaten to death by the police in Sathankulam. It is deeply disturbing to learn of the brutal acts carried out without the slightest compassion by those who are expected to know the law and are entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the public,” he said.
He also commended those who fought for justice in the case. “The family members of Jeyaraj and Bennix, the people of Sathankulam, social activists, and the Central Bureau of Investigation officers who proved the crime with evidence—all of whom fought tirelessly against this injustice that shook the entire nation—deserve appreciation,” he noted.
Kamal Haasan reiterated his stance against capital punishment, even in cases of grave crimes. “Personally, I am against the death penalty. My stance is that those who commit heinous crimes should be imprisoned for life and made to undergo rigorous punishment without any concessions,” he said.
Reflecting on the wider human cost, he added, “I also think about the families of the nine individuals who have been sentenced to death. By committing such inhumane acts, they have inflicted immense suffering on their own innocent family members.”
Calling for broader accountability, he said, “My heart longs for punishment to be given to those who tried to cover up the truth as well—the doctor who issued certificates without even examining the severely injured victims, the official who ordered their remand, the authorities who attempted to suppress facts, and the rulers who, without any conscience, claimed that the deaths were due to suffocation.”
Emphasising the need for strict rule of law, Kamal Haasan concluded, “Whoever commits crimes with the arrogance that power protects them—no matter how influential they are—must be punished severely under the law. Atrocities committed against innocent people in the name of authority must be eradicated.”
The case dates back to June 2020, when the father and son from Sathankulam in Thoothukudi were arrested for allegedly keeping their mobile shop open beyond permitted hours during the lockdown, a charge later found to be false. They were taken into custody, where they were reportedly subjected to brutal torture before being remanded. Both died within days, sparking widespread protests across the country.
