CJ Roy Suicide Case: Alleged IT Pressure, CID Takeover: Here's What We Know So Far

Bengaluru: The investigation into the suicide of businessman C.J. Roy has widened significantly, with multiple agencies now closely monitoring the case amid growing focus on political, financial and professional angles. Senior police officials have indicated that the case is likely to be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) due to its sensitive nature.

CID Takeover on the Cards

Sources say that while the Ashok Nagar police are presently investigating the case, preparations are underway for a possible handover to the CID. Once the transfer is effected, the complete case file will be handed over, including primary evidence, statements of witnesses, and the complainant’s statement.

Technical and forensic material collected so far, including call detail records (CDRs), the post-mortem report, mahazar documents, and reports from Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) will also be transferred to the CID. Sources indicate that the handover could take place by this evening or by tomorrow.
 

Who Was C.J. Roy

Official records have identified businessman C.J. Roy as Roy Chiriyan Kandath Joseph, the founder and chairman of the Confident Group. He was a prominent figure in the real estate sector, with business interests extending beyond India to Dubai and other foreign countries.

Roy was found dead earlier this week in Bengaluru in what police initially described as a case of suicide. Following his death, his wife and son reached the Bowring Hospital mortuary as legal and forensic procedures were carried out.

Brother Alleges Pressure From IT Officials

In a key development, Roy’s brother Babu Joseph has alleged that the businessman was under pressure from Income Tax officials in the days leading up to his death.

Speaking to reporters, Babu Joseph said Income Tax raids had been underway for three days starting January 28. He claimed that on the morning of the incident, at around 10:40 am, Roy called him twice and spoke about the pressure he was facing.

“He told me he was under a lot of pressure from the IT department and asked when I would return. I told him I would be back by 2 pm. By the time I reached, he had already killed himself”, Joseph said. When asked if Roy had elaborated on the nature of the pressure, Joseph said he had not provided further details. He added that Roy did not mention any threats from anyone else.

Joseph also alleged that Roy had spoken about being harassed by Income Tax officials for nearly a month. According to him, documents were collected between December 3 and December 6, and Roy was repeatedly called for questioning. He named an IRS officer, Krishna Prasad from Kochi, as being present during the questioning.

Joseph further stated that to his knowledge, Roy had no financial problems, no loans, and no other threats, and was not suffering from depression.

IT Department Denies Pressure

The allegations come even as the Income Tax Department has submitted a detailed clarification to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), categorically denying any pressure or coercion.
According to sources, the three-page clarification, submitted by Joint Director Nitin Biju, states that no statement was recorded from C.J. Roy on the day of the incident and that no harassment or coercion was involved. IT officials informed the MHA that raids had been conducted about a month ago as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, during which documents were seized.

The department has said discrepancies were later found during the auditing process, following which further verification was underway. Officials have also expressed concern that the case could take a political turn and have urged the MHA to closely monitor the investigation to ensure transparency.

Ongoing Probe

Official records identify C.J. Roy as Roy Chiriyan Kandath Joseph, the founder and chairman of the Confident Group, with business interests in real estate projects in India and abroad, including Dubai. He was found dead earlier this week in Bengaluru in what police initially described as a case of suicide.

Following his death, Roy’s wife and son reached the Bowring Hospital mortuary as post-mortem and legal formalities were carried out.

Investigators are examining Roy’s activities over the last three months, including business performance, financial stress, and possible external pressure. Police are also verifying claims of political investments linked to his ventures and are seeking access to his WhatsApp chat records and call detail records to reconstruct his final communications.

Authorities maintain that all angles are being investigated and that conclusions will be drawn only after forensic and technical evidence is fully analysed. Further developments are awaited.

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