Dr C. J Roy, 57, the founder and chairman of the Confident Group, died almost instantaneously after suffering a devastating gunshot wound to his vital organs. Today at Bowring Hospital, a police autopsy showed that he had not only died almost immediately, but his vital organs were taken over by gunshot wounds.
The Fatal Ballistics: Precision 6.35mm
Forensic experts have diagnosed the cause of death as a single gunshot wound from a 6.35mm (.25 ACP) caliber bullet. The projectile, fired from Roy's licensed handgun, followed a fatal trajectory that took just seconds:
- Structural Damage: The bullet pierced the left side of the chest which resulted in devastating heart and lung damage.
- Immediate Incapacitation: The wound resulted in a huge internal hemorrhage and a large drop in blood pressure the medical examiners found, bringing "immediate death."
- Range of Fire: Preliminary findings suggest a “close-contact” wound in keeping with the police theory of self-infliction.
A Life Cut Short Amid Scrutiny
The tragedy took place on Friday, January 30, at the Confident Group’s headquarters near Richmond Circle. Dr. Roy was allegedly being interrogated by Income Tax (I-T) officers from the Kerala wing during a three-day-long search and seizure operation. Roy had asked to go take a break to collect documents from an inner chamber, eyewitness accounts from colleagues said. Shortly thereafter, a single gunshot rang out through the office. Despite being rushed to Narayana Hospital, he was declared brought dead.
The Political & Personal Aftermath
It was performed in the presence of his wife, Lina Roy, and son, Rohith Roy who came to Bengaluru from abroad late Friday night. The death has triggered a political firestorm in Karnataka:
- Government Inquiry: Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, has commissioned a top-level inquiry into the circumstances of the death.
- Allegations of Harassment: The ruling government minister, Priyank Kharge, went on to call it a "pure harassment" against the central agencies.
- Family Statement: C.J. Babu, Roy’s brother, said that, although Roy had been stressed because of the continued raids, he had “no financial problems or outstanding loans,” thus identifying the psychological pressure of such an investigation as a significant contributing factor.
A Builder's Legacy
Dr. C.J. Roy was a giant in the South Indian real estate industry because of his "hands-on" work and philanthropy. His firm, the Confident Group, has delivered more than 160 projects in Bengaluru and Kerala. Outside of real estate, he was an entertainment phenomenon who sponsored big reality shows like Bigg Boss and Star Singer.
