Banglore: The death of prominent real estate businessman and Confident Group chairman CJ Roy during an Income Tax operation in Bengaluru has triggered political attention and public concern, prompting the Karnataka government to consider handing over the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday indicated that a senior-level investigation would be ordered to ensure transparency and credibility. He said the case could be transferred from the local Ashok Nagar police to the CID within a short time frame, as the circumstances surrounding the incident demand a deeper and impartial probe.
According to officials, CJ Roy died from a gunshot injury inside his office while Income Tax officials were present at the premises as part of an ongoing investigation. Police sources said the raids had been underway for the past few days and involved teams from both Karnataka and Kerala.
Roy’s brother, CJ Babu, speaking to the media, said the family was shocked by the incident and denied any personal or financial distress apart from the tax inquiry. He stated that Roy had no known disputes, debts, or threats and described him as mentally stable. Babu said he had last spoken to his brother shortly before the incident and was now trying to understand what transpired by speaking to Roy’s office staff.
Family members, including Roy’s wife and son, arrived at a city hospital mortuary to complete formalities, while relatives focused on funeral arrangements amid grief and unanswered questions.
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar said the government was determined to uncover the full truth. He acknowledged that the incident occurred during questioning and stressed that such a situation should not have escalated to a loss of life. He also confirmed that the central authorities had sought a detailed report on the matter.
Bengaluru police have begun recording statements from family members, staff, and others who were present at the time of the incident. Forensic and crime scene teams have collected evidence, and officials said the final conclusion would depend on forensic findings and call records.
While preliminary assessments suggest suicide, investigators have not ruled out any angle. The possible transfer of the case to the CID reflects the sensitivity of the matter, given Roy’s stature in the business community and the timing of the tax action.
