Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has formally written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, demanding a judicial inquiry into the unnatural death of industrialist CJ Roy, who reportedly shot himself at his office in Bengaluru on January 30. The incident took place during two to three days of Income Tax raids involving teams from Karnataka and Kerala, within the jurisdiction of the Ashok Nagar police station.

In a strongly worded letter, CM Vijayan described the death as a “blot on the country’s tax administration” and raised serious concerns regarding procedural lapses during the Income Tax operation. He specifically questioned how CJ Roy could access a loaded firearm in the presence of officials, calling the event a grave failure of protocol that warrants independent investigation.

Vijayan also referred to allegations of harassment by IT officials as reported by Roy’s family, particularly citing statements from his brother. The Kerala CM emphasised the importance of accountability and transparency, stating that only an independent judicial inquiry headed by a former constitutional court judge can uncover the full facts and prevent similar incidents in the future. While acknowledging that the Karnataka Police are investigating, Vijayan stressed the need for a broader judicial probe to examine administrative procedures, due diligence, and the conduct of the officials involved. He urged the Centre to order the judicial inquiry without delay and ensure a time-bound report for public confidence.

Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, IPS, has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of CJ Roy, the Chairman of the Confident Group. The SIT is led by Joint Commissioner of Police, West Zone, C Vamshi Krishna, IPS, with Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Division, Lokesh Jagalasar, IPS serving as the Investigating Officer. Other senior officers, including Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Division Akshay Hake, IPS, and officials from special units, are also part of the team. The SIT has the authority to bring in additional officers and resources as needed to carry out a comprehensive investigation.

According to a statement from Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s office, the incident allegedly occurred after CJ Roy requested a short break during questioning by the Income Tax department. "When (IT officials) were asking him many questions, he is said to have asked for five minutes, went inside and did this (shot himself)," the statement said, indicating the immediate circumstances surrounding the death.

The CJ Roy death case has raised national concerns about the conduct of Income Tax raids, procedural accountability, and corporate governance, prompting both state-level and central-level attention. The Kerala CM’s call for a judicial probe reflects broader concerns about ensuring transparency and safeguarding citizens’ rights during government actions, especially in sensitive corporate investigations.

This case continues to attract attention across India as the SIT investigation progresses, while calls for a judicial inquiry seek to provide clarity and prevent similar tragedies in the future. The unfolding events underscore the importance of strict adherence to protocol, oversight of official procedures, and independent scrutiny in high-stakes enforcement operations affecting corporate leaders.

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