Tuticorin, April 6, 2025
In a decades-old case, a local court in Tuticorin on Saturday sentenced nine individuals, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-level officer, to life imprisonment in connection with the custodial death of a man named Vincent in 1999.
The case pertains to the death of Vincent while in custody at the Thalamuthu Nagar police station, where he was reportedly subjected to torture. At the time of the incident, the now DSP-ranked officer was serving as an Inspector.
The Tuticorin District Additional Sessions Court delivered the long-awaited judgment, convicting nine of the eleven accused in the case. Two of the accused were acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence.
Among the nine convicted, one is a serving Inspector, while the remaining eight have since retired from service. The court also imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on each of the convicted individuals.
The verdict has been hailed as a rare instance of accountability in custodial violence cases, which often see years of delay and limited convictions. Human rights activists and legal experts have welcomed the decision, calling it a step forward in addressing police brutality and systemic impunity.
Vincent’s family, who have been fighting for justice for over two decades, expressed relief at the verdict, though they called the delay deeply painful. “Justice has finally been served, but it took 26 years,” a family member said outside the court.
Legal commentators expect the judgment to influence ongoing debates and reforms related to police accountability and custodial safeguards in India.