Chennai/IBNS, April 6 -- A court in Tamil Nadu has sentenced nine police personnel to death in connection with the 2020 custodial deaths of trader P Jayaraj and his son J Benniks.

The First Additional District and Sessions Court in Madurai described the case as "rarest of rare", citing the severity of the crime and abuse of authority.

The verdict followed a trial lasting more than five years, during which the court examined extensive evidence presented by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The judge held all nine accused guilty of murder and related offences.

Those convicted include Inspector S Sridhar, Sub-Inspectors P Raghu Ganesh and K Balakrishnan, Head Constables S Murugan and A Samadurai, and Constables M Muthuraj, S Chelladur...