‘He went into another room and..’: Confident Group chief CJ Roy shot himself right after questioning

A routine afternoon of questioning during an Income-Tax search operation ended in tragedy on Friday after Confident Group founder and chairman CJ Roy was found dead at his residence in central Bengaluru.

Police have said the case is being treated prima facie as a suicide, though investigators stress that all angles, including possible abetment, remain open. 

The 57-year-old real estate developer was at his Langford Town bungalow when Income-Tax officials, who had been conducting coordinated searches linked to his company for three consecutive days, questioned him in his first-floor office chamber. According to police officers familiar with the sequence of events, Roy was questioned between 12 pm and 1 pm on Friday. By mid-afternoon, the questioning had concluded.

“He said he would make a call to his family and return,” a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity. “Instead, he went into another room. Shortly after, a gunshot was heard.”

Officials present at the premises rushed in and found Roy with bullet injuries. He was initially taken to a nearby private hospital and later shifted to Narayana Hospital in HSR Layout, where doctors declared him dead.

The pistol suspected to have been used in the shooting has been seized, and CCTV footage from the residence is being examined as part of the investigation.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh visited the spot later in the day and confirmed that a case has been registered at Ashok Nagar police station based on a complaint filed by a company executive.

“Prima facie, it appears that industrialist CJ Roy has shot himself,” Singh said. “The Scene of Crime Officer team, ballistic experts, and forensic officials are investigating to establish the exact circumstances.”

Police said the incident occurred around 3.15 pm. While early indicators point to suicide, investigators cautioned against concluding this stage.

“It is too early to categorise the case conclusively,” Singh said when asked about the possibility of abetment. “Charges will depend on what the investigation reveals. Ballistic experts will ascertain details regarding the weapon.”

Roy’s brother CJ Babu said the family was focused on cremation arrangements and denied knowledge of any personal, financial, or external pressures faced by the industrialist.

He asserted that the Income-Tax inquiry was the only known issue confronting Roy, adding that there were no threats, debts, or loan-related problems. Babu said he last spoke to Roy at 10.40 am on Friday and would speak to the office staff to understand what transpired before concluding.

The presence of Income-Tax officials at the time of the incident has added a sensitive dimension to the probe. According to police, the I-T team — which had arrived from Kochi — was later allowed to leave after preliminary questioning. Officials from the Income Tax office in Kochi did not respond to requests for comment.

The searches were part of a wider operation linked to the Confident Group, a prominent developer in Bengaluru and Kerala’s luxury housing market. The company has been involved in multiple tax disputes and appeals before the Karnataka High Court and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.

Originally from Kochi, Roy also had links to the Malayalam film industry and had produced films, including the 2012 Mohanlal-starrer Casanova. Confident Group was also a title sponsor for several seasons of Bigg Boss Malayalam.

As forensic teams continue their work, police say the focus remains on reconstructing Roy’s final moments — and determining whether the tragedy was a solitary act or the result of deeper pressures that surfaced during an intense financial investigation.

(Suicide is not a solution: If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 9152987821, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.