Jayaraj-Bennix case: SC refuses bail to two cops
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:08.09.2021
The Supreme Court has declined to grant bail to two police officers – inspector S Sridhar and sub-inspector P Raghu Ganesh – in connection with the death of trader P Jayaraj and his son J Bennix in June 2020 due to custodial torture by Sathankulam police in Tuticorin district. “…considering the facts and circumstances, at this stage, we are not inclined to interfere with the high court’s order refusing bail,” held a division bench of Justice Vineet Sarann and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari on Tuesday.
On June 19, 2020, Jayaraj, 59, and Bennix, 31, were picked up by Sathankulam police on charges of keeping their mobile phone shop open during pandemic lockdown hours. Due to brutal third-degree treatment in custody, the two suffered severe injuries. While still in judicial custody, Bennix died at Kovilpatti hospital on June 22, and Jayaraj died the next day. Owing to public uproar, Tamil Nadu government handed over the case to CBI, which has filed chargesheet as well. Trial is on at present.
On Tuesday, S Nagamuthu, senior counsel representing inspector Sridhar and Raghu Ganesh, argued in the Supreme Court that the father-son duo did not die due to the injuries sustained at the police station, and that they died due to respiratory illness and heart ailment. As the accused officers would not abscond, they should be enlarged on bail, he argued.
Additional solicitor general KM Natraj, representing the CBI, however, pointed to photographs and forensic reports and said there were at least 18 injuries recorded on the victims’ bodies.
Senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, representing Bennix’s mother, said the two officers were very much present at the station when the victims were being tortured. Noting that two eye witnesses have gathered courage and gave statements against their senior officers, Jaisingh said enlarging the police officers on bail at this stage would collapse the trial.
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