Confident Group Chairman CJ Roy (57) was found dead in his office in Bengaluru. He allegedly shot himself during a search of the IT department. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and started investigation.
Confident Group Chairman and well-known real estate businessman CJ Roy was found dead in his office in Langford Town, Bengaluru on Friday afternoon. There were bullet marks on his body and the incident occurred amid an ongoing Income Tax investigation. The 57-year-old businessman allegedly shot himself on the left side of the chest with his licensed pistol between 3 and 3:10 pm, police said. The police also said that the status of the weapon’s license was still being investigated.
The incident occurred when a team of Income Tax (IT) officials from Kochi, along with officials from Bengaluru, were conducting searches at the office of Confident Group. The action was part of a larger raid last month, during which authorities examined and seized a number of documents.
According to initial developments, the IT official reached the office at around 12 noon, while Roy arrived there at around 2 pm. Between 2 and 3 pm, the officers reportedly asked him to sign and review some documents. Around 3 am, Roy told the officials that some documents were kept in his cabin and he went inside. A few minutes later, gunshots were heard.
chronology of events
12 noon: IT officials reached Bengaluru office of Confident Group
2 pm: CJ Roy reached office
2-3 pm: Officials ask them to sign and review documents
3-3.10 pm: Roy allegedly shot himself in the chest
3.10-4 pm: He was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead
Police said Roy was initially told he was free to go, but was later asked to stay for paperwork. It is not yet clear whether there was CCTV surveillance in the cabin or not. A police source said that Roy kept his briefcase, which contained his pistol and documents, with him at all times.
“Roy was not stopped from doing his normal work today as we were only investigating to remove the prohibitory orders imposed against his firm,” police said, quoting IT officials.
On hearing the sound of the bullet, there was panic among the employees and officers and they raised noise. “Staff and officials raised an alarm, and Roy was taken to Narayana Hospital in HSR Layout, where doctors declared him brought dead,” a senior investigating officer said.
Police confirmed that a bullet wound was found on Roy’s body, but said further investigation was needed to determine whether more bullets were fired. “Though there is a bullet wound on Roy’s body, we need to investigate further to find out how many bullets he might have fired,” police said.
City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said, “Though we know it was a hand-held weapon, its exact make and caliber will have to be confirmed by the ballistic team, which is conducting its investigation.”
A formal case was registered based on the complaint of T A Joseph, founder director and managing director of Confident Group. An investigating officer clarified that no allegations have been made against IT officials in the complaint. “Hence, we have registered a case of unnatural death. If the family members make any fresh allegations, we can file a separate FIR,” the officer said.
Roy’s wife and two children – both aged 20-22 – live in Dubai and are expected to reach Bengaluru early Saturday. While his mother lives near the Nexus Mall in Koramangala, associates said Roy usually stayed in five-star hotels in the city’s central business district during his trips.
A close associate recalled Roy’s cautious habits, saying that he was never separated from his briefcase. “Sometimes when he left it behind, he would immediately send his bodyguard to fetch it,” the aide said, adding, “In working with Roy for so many years, he never seemed weak-hearted. His death comes as a shock.”
Roy’s brother CJ Babu, who owns Whitegold, blamed the IT department for his death. He claimed that Kerala officials had been conducting searches in Bengaluru for three days and had put excessive pressure on Roy.
Babu alleged that though Roy’s family lived in Dubai, he had returned to Bengaluru to be present in the city on the instructions of IT officials. Declaring that Roy committed suicide with his pistol, Babu insisted that the Income Tax officers were solely responsible for his death. It is an allegation that is likely to intensify the investigation into the circumstances of the businessman’s final moments.