CJ Roy death case: Kerala CM writes to FM Nirmala Sitharaman, seeks judicial probe into IT investigation

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan urges Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to order a judicial inquiry, citing serious doubts over IT officials’ conduct and unanswered questions surrounding businessman CJ Roy’s death.

The suicide of prominent Bengaluru based businessman C.J. Roy has taken a political turn, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan writing a detailed letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, demanding a judicial inquiry into the incident and the Income Tax (IT) department’s role during the search operation.

In his letter, Vijayan expressed serious concern over the circumstances in which the entrepreneur allegedly shot himself during an IT investigation at his Bengaluru office. He stated that the incident has caused deep anxiety among the business community and civil society, while also casting a shadow over the country’s tax administration system.

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The Chief Minister questioned whether IT officials followed established protocols during the operation. He pointed out that as per procedure, a person undergoing a search should remain under the monitoring of officials at all times. However, in this case, C.J. Roy reportedly moved to another room and used a gun to end his life, raising multiple suspicions.

Vijayan specifically questioned why the firearm was not secured or seized beforehand by officials during the search. He noted that in any IT raid, the person being searched is expected to remain in the presence of officers, making the circumstances of Roy being alone with a gun highly questionable.

The letter also refers to the statement made by C.J. Roy’s brother CJ Babu Joseph, who claimed that the businessman had fully cooperated with the IT investigation. Despite extending cooperation, the family alleges that repeated searches were conducted and that IT officials subjected Roy to harassment and intense pressure.

According to the Chief Minister, these allegations, combined with the manner of death, point to several unresolved doubts that cannot be ignored. He stressed that such incidents damage public trust and instil fear among traders and entrepreneurs.

Vijayan further stated that to prevent similar tragedies in the future, an ‘impartial and transparent’ investigation is essential. He urged the Centre to hand over the case for a judicial probe, stating that only an independent inquiry can bring out the truth and restore confidence in institutions.