Madurai District Court: In a custodial death case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Single Judge Bench of First Additional District Judge, G. Muthukumaran, held that it was a clear case of abuse of authority and fell in the rarest of the rare cases; all the accused persons were convicted of the charges of murder and destruction of evidence.
The present case arises out of the custodial deaths of a father-son duo at Sathankulam Police Station, Tamil Nadu, which led to widespread public outrage and national attention.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the deceased were apprehended by police officials of Sathankulam Police Station and were wrongfully confined. During their confinement, they were subjected to severe physical assault and torture by the convicted police personnel. Consequently, son succumbed to his injuries, followed by the death of the father in judicial custody.
Initially, cases were registered at the Kovilpatti Police Station. However, in view of the public outrage and media coverage for a fair investigation, the Government of Tamil Nadu transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Accordingly, on the request of the Tamil Nadu Government and further notification by the Government of India, the CBI took over the investigation and registered two cases.
The CBI conducted an extensive investigation in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The investigation revealed that the deaths of the deceased had directly resulted from the brutal custodial violence by police personnel of Sathankulam Police Station. Upon completion of the investigation, a combined charge-sheet was filed under Sections 302, 201, 120-B, 342, 182, 193, 211, 218 and 34, Penal Code, 1860. CBI filed a charge-sheet against nine persons, namely, S. Sridhar, Inspector, the then SHO, P. Raguganesh, SI, K. Balakrishnan, SI, S. Murugan, HC, S. Chelladurai, PC, M. Muthuraja, PC, A. Samadurai, HC, X. Thomas Francis, PC, S. Veilumuthu, PC. One additional accused, a Sub-Inspector, died during the course of the investigation. All the accused were arrested and remained in judicial custody.
During the trial, CBI cited 135 witnesses and examined 52 witnesses and had pressed for the highest degree of punishment. It was contended that the incident constituted a grave abuse of police authority and a gross violation of human rights that had shaken the conscience of society. The prosecution further established that the accused not only inflicted fatal injuries but also attempted to destroy evidence and fabricate records to shield themselves.
The trial, which spanned over five years, resulted in the conviction of all nine accused persons for offences including murder and destruction of evidence. The Court awarded the death penalty to all nine convicted police officials and held that there was a clear and egregious abuse of authority.
Accordingly, the Court held that the present case fell within the category of the “rarest of the rare” cases, warranting capital punishment.
[CBI v. Sridhar, SC No. 470 of 2020, decided on 6-4-2026]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
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