Who Was CJ Roy? Confident Group Chairman Shoots Himself Hours After IT Department Raid At Bengaluru Office

The sudden death of Confident Group chairperson Dr Chiriankandath Joseph Roy has sent shockwaves through the real estate and business community.

The 57 year old industrialist allegedly died by suicide on Friday at his office on Langford Road in Bengaluru, hours after the Income Tax Department conducted searches at the premises. Police officials are continuing their investigation, while further details surrounding the incident are awaited.

CJ Roy's final hours at the Bengaluru office

According to preliminary information, Dr Chiriankandath Joseph Roy was present at the Confident Group office when income tax officials were carrying out searches on Friday. During questioning, Roy reportedly went inside his chamber and shot himself using his licensed pistol.

He was immediately rushed to Narayana Multispecialty Hospital in HSR Layout Sector 3, but succumbed to his injuries. Police sources stated that officials were present in the office building at the time of the incident, though not inside the room where the shooting occurred.

"The IT department was questioning CJ Roy inside his office on Friday. During that time, he went to his chamber and shot himself. At that time, officials were present in the office building but not in the room," said official sources.

The Income Tax Department has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.

Who was Confident Group founder CJ Roy?

Roy was the founder and chairperson of Confident Group, a Bengaluru headquartered real estate and infrastructure conglomerate established in 2005. Over the years, the group expanded its footprint beyond real estate into hospitality and education.

As per information available on the company's website, Roy held a doctorate in business administration from SBS Business School in Zurich, Switzerland. Under his leadership, Confident Group gained recognition for construction quality and timely project execution, while also diversifying into multiple business verticals.

The group was associated with nearly 200 projects across Bengaluru, Kochi and the United Arab Emirates. Reflecting on the company's values, Roy had said in a message on the official website, "Our founding principles have been well practiced in the form of delivering what we commit."

Income tax searches and early findings

Initial reports indicate that the Income Tax Department had conducted searches linked to Confident Group as early as December last year. On Friday, fresh searches were underway at the company's Bengaluru office when the incident took place.

Officials confirmed that questioning was ongoing at the time of the shooting. The exact reason behind Roy's decision to take the extreme step remains unclear, and authorities are examining all possible angles as part of the investigation.

Investigation underway, officials await clarity

Following the incident, Scene of Crime Officers, the Forensic Science Laboratory team and Seemanth Kumar Singh, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, reached the spot to assess the situation.

Police have reiterated that further details will emerge after the investigation progresses. For now, officials maintain that the searches and questioning were part of routine proceedings, and no conclusions have been drawn linking them directly to Roy's death.

Confident Group remains one of the prominent diversified conglomerates in South India, with a strong presence in real estate across Karnataka and Kerala, alongside interests in hospitality, aviation, entertainment, education and healthcare.