Bengaluru Real Estate Tycoon CJ Roy Found Dead After I-T Raids, Brother Alleges Harassment
Bengaluru: C. J. Roy, the 57-year-old chairman and managing director of Bengaluru-based Confident Group, allegedly shot himself in his office in Bengaluru’s Langford Town, an upscale locality in east Bengaluru, on Friday evening. The Income Tax department had been conducting raids at his office for the past two to three days.
According to Seemanth Kumar Singh, the Bengaluru city police commissioner, the incident occurred within the limits of the Ashok Nagar police station. “Today, an incident has taken place wherein the Confident Group chairman and founder has reportedly shot himself dead, as of the initial reports,” Singh told reporters.
Hearing the gunshot, Roy’s employees rushed to his office and found him in a pool of blood. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Singh added that a case has been registered and a thorough investigation will be conducted.
Singh also mentioned that the I-T department had been conducting searches on the premises for the past few days. The I-T team was from Kerala, where the Confident Group has a significant presence. Ballistics and forensic teams are currently examining the office.
Speaking to Kannada TV channels, Roy’s brother, C. J. Babu, said he had been summoned to the I-T office on January 27, and the searches had been ongoing for nearly three days. Babu, who is no longer associated with the Confident Group but was previously involved, alleged that his brother was being “harassed” by I-T officials and blamed them for driving Roy to suicide.
Roy’s family is not currently in India and is expected to arrive late Friday night, according to Singh. The Confident Group, founded in 2006, has undertaken over 210 real estate projects, including 29 in Kochi, 25 in Thiruvananthapuram, five in Dubai, and several others in various parts of Kerala, Bengaluru, and its outskirts. The group is also involved in rental services, interior design, home care, and financial consulting.
Roy was known for his humble beginnings and his opulent lifestyle. Multiple videos of him are available online, showcasing his collection of luxury vehicles such as Bugatti Veyrons, Porches, Ferraris, and other high-end cars. Despite his wealth, he was known to still be looking for his first car, a Maruti 800, and had offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh to anyone who could help him locate it.
If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal or depressed, please reach out to a helpline number in your state for immediate assistance.
