BENGALURU | KOCHI: C J Roy, founder and chairman of the Confident Group real estate firm, tragically took his own life on Friday afternoon, as confirmed by Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh.
Singh stated that Income Tax (I-T) searches had been ongoing in Bangalore for the past three days.
At the age of late 50s, Roy suffered a gunshot wound from his licensed firearm at his office near Richmond Circle. Staff rushed to his aid after hearing the gunshot, only to find him in critical condition.
Despite immediate efforts to transport him to a hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Sources within the I-T department revealed that investigations at Roy’s premises began approximately two months prior to this incident.
Singh clarified that the shooting occurred between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM, and a complaint was filed by the director of Confident Group, prompting the police to initiate an investigation.
Initial reports suggest that the I-T team was questioning Roy that very day. The investigation will unfold based on the findings of this complaint, with the potential for it to be treated as abetment to suicide.
The I-T team conducting the searches hailed from Kerala, and the police have yet to interview them. “Currently, none of the officers are here. We’ll be speaking to them soon,” Singh mentioned.
In terms of the investigation’s progress, Singh remarked that police were still in the dark about specific proceedings, though forensic and crime teams had evaluated the scene. So far, no eyewitnesses have come forward.
Confident Group expressed their sorrow on Facebook, honoring their chairman as their “beloved leader.” They wrote, “Our beloved leader has departed from us, but the values and vision he instilled will continue guiding us.”
Roy’s family has been notified and is expected to arrive in Bangalore soon.
In a phone interview with a Malayalam news outlet, Roy’s brother alleged that the pressures from a central agency might have contributed to his brother’s drastic decision.
“I’m not sure how the Income Tax team troubled him. They need to clarify what led to this. He had been under pressure for the last several days. I was trying to support him, never anticipating he would take such a step,” he shared.
He confirmed that Roy did not face financial issues, asserting, “He had zero debt and a solid bank balance.” He also noted that the I-T team first visited on December 3, 2025, and then returned on January 28 after calling him from Dubai.
Roy had contacted his brother earlier that day, seeking confirmation on when he would be back.
A native of Kerala, Roy was not only known for his slew of luxury vehicles but also cherished his Maruti 800, a car he associated with his early days.
Roy was philanthropic as well; he had pledged to donate flats to underprivileged individuals at a real estate exhibition a few years back.
In addition, he had produced four Malayalam films over the years. Under his guidance, the Confident Group rose to prominence as a leading real estate developer in Kerala and Bengaluru.
The company has successfully completed various projects and consistently ranks among the region’s top developers.
Roy’s untimely passing has reverberated through the real estate community, affecting countless clients of the Confident Group.
Prominent figures have paid tribute to him on social media, with renowned chef and entrepreneur Suresh Pillai expressing disbelief and calling him a great mentor, while businessman Gokulam Gopalan remembered him as a person of integrity and generosity.
