Bengaluru: A leading Indian real estate businessman was found dead on Wednesday during an income tax raid at his office in Bengaluru, in an incident that authorities say is being treated as an alleged suicide.
The deceased has been identified as CJ Roy, chairman of the Confident Group, a major real estate firm. The 57-year-old businessman allegedly shot himself inside his office while income tax officials were present, Indian media reported.
Following the incident, police and investigation agencies cordoned off the office premises and began collecting forensic and documentary evidence.
According to Indian media, Bengaluru Police Commissioner confirmed that the incident occurred at around 3:30pm. He said CJ Roy took the extreme step during the ongoing tax operation, prompting immediate action by law enforcement agencies.
Police officials said the income tax department had been conducting raids for the past three days on CJ Roy and companies linked to him, during which suspected undisclosed assets and income reportedly came to light.
The police commissioner said that the exact cause and circumstances of death will be determined after completion of investigations, adding that authorities are also examining whether any form of pressure or provocation was involved.
He further revealed that the income tax team was from Kerala, and police plan to record detailed statements from all officials involved in the operation.
According to Indian media reports, CJ Roy’s brother stated that income tax officials first questioned him in December, while a second round of questioning took place on January 28, after he was asked to return from Dubai. The investigation reportedly intensified after that.
Reports also noted that CJ Roy belonged to Kochi, Kerala, and was known for his interest in luxury cars. He was also associated with the Malayalam film industry, where he produced several films.