BENGALURU: Chiriankandath Joseph Roy, popularly known as CJ Roy, chairman of Confident Group — a prominent real estate company, shot himself dead following marathon grilling by sleuths of the Income Tax department on Friday.
The real estate tycoon, who was also the Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic (Karnataka and Kerala), took the extreme step at the consulate office located on the first floor of the Confident Pentagon building on Langford Road. The taxmen were still conducting the investigation at the Confident Group office located in the same building. His family members alleged that “pressure” from the IT department drove Roy (57) to end his life.
The police said the incident occurred at the building, where IT officials from Kerala were questioning him for the past three days. Around six to seven IT officials had come to Roy’s office in two SUVs. On Friday, he was questioned for several hours. When they gave a break, Roy went to the consulate office on the first floor. After a few minutes, a gunshot was heard and the staff rushed in. They found him lying in a pool of blood, as he had shot himself in the chest with a pistol.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, who visited the spot, told reporters, “The incident happened around 3.15 pm. Roy was immediately shifted to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. A team of IT department officials from Kerala had been questioning him for the last three days.
Even on Friday, Roy was subjected to questioning before he shot himself. We are in touch with his family members, who are not in India. The IT officials who were questioning him will also be questioned as part of the probe. As of now, there is no information regarding the IT case registered against him and also the reason for the suicide.”
Roy’s elder brother CJ Babu, speaking to the media, alleged that Roy took the extreme step because of pressure from Income Tax (IT) officials. He alleged that an additional commissioner of Income Tax and his team were pressuring his brother.
“My brother had been tense for a while due to the IT raids conducted over the past three days. On December 3 also, IT officials raided his office. He had no enmity, threat or debt,” Babu said, adding that he was also questioned by IT officials on January 27 and he had spoken to Roy around 11 am today (Friday).
Roy’s wife, son, and daughter, who live in Dubai, are expected to reach Bengaluru around 3 am on Saturday.
MD of Confident Grp seeks probe
Ballistic experts will examine the weapon used, while teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory and the Scene of Crime Officers are examining the spot. The body has been shifted to the Bowring Hospital mortuary for the postmortem.
The Ashok Nagar police registered an unnatural death case following a complaint filed by TA Joseph, MD and founding director of Confident Group. He has sought an investigation into the circumstances that led Roy to take the extreme step. Confident Group has its presence in India, predominantly in Kerala and Karnataka, and Dubai.
