BENGALURU: A special investigation team (SIT) has been set up for “a comprehensive and meticulous” probe into the death of 57-year-old real estate tycoon CJ Roy who was found dead at his office during Income Tax Department searches linked to his company, the Bengaluru police said on Saturday.
Bengaluru police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said the SIT would be led by C. Vamshi Krishna, joint commissioner of police, West Zone, and Lokesh Jagalasar, deputy commissioner of police, South Division, has been designated as the investigating officer.
Roy, the founder of Confident Group and the honorary consul of the Slovak Republic, allegedly died by suicide on Friday at his firm’s office in the city. According to the statement given to police by T.A. Joseph, managing director of the Confident Group, Roy went to the Langford Road office to provide a statement to tax officials.
Joseph told the police that after entering his cabin, Roy locked the door, claiming he needed to speak with his mother. When staff eventually broke in, they found him unresponsive with a gunshot wound from his licensed firearm. An ambulance was called, but the medical staff reported no pulse. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
His brother, Babu Roy, linked his brother’s death to proceedings initiated by the Income Tax department. Babu Roy told reporters that tax authorities conducted searches at the company's premises in December 2025. Tax officials again came to the office on January 29 and asked Roy to be present the following day.
“My brother told me many times that the pressure from the Income Tax department was too much. Even on the morning of January 30, he spoke to me. He had been under severe pressure for the past few days. I am not sure what kind of pressure they put on him, but he had no debts and no financial issues. I have lost my brother,” he told reporters.
Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said police had begun a preliminary inquiry and that decisions on further action would follow the findings.
“Several aspects need to be examined, what happened before the incident and what led him to take an extreme step. I have instructed the police to conduct a detailed investigation. Once the report is submitted, the facts will become clear and further decisions will be taken accordingly,” he said.
The minister, however, insisted that claims of harassment linked to the tax searches had not yet been examined.
“We have not thought about the IT harassment angle at this stage. The team has not examined the IT aspect so far. If the investigation throws up such details, it will be looked into,” he said.
The city police commissioner, who ordered the formation of the SIT for “a comprehensive and meticulous investigation into this case”, said in a statement that the team was empowered to induct additional officers and resources as required.
All relevant officers have been directed to assist in ensuring a “lawful, prompt, and effective investigation,” the police statement said. The Ashok Nagar police station has filed an Unnatural Death Report, and the death was being treated as a prima facie case of suicide.
Curated by James Chen
