Minister Priyank Kharge calls CJ Roy death case ‘harassment’ by IT officials

BENGALURU: Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday described the death of Confident Group chairman CJ Roy as a case of “pure harassment” by the Income Tax Department, accusing the Centre of using the IT, ED and GST departments to target SMEs, MSMEs, individuals and industrialists who do not align with the government.

This comes after Roy allegedly died by suicide in Bengaluru on Friday, according to officials. “This is nothing but harassment by the Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate officials, and it is happening across the country. This is the third or fourth such instance in Karnataka. The IT, ED and GST departments are being used to harass SMEs, MSMEs, individuals and industrialists who do not align with the government”, Priyank Kharge told reporters.

He further alleged that central agencies had been turned into tools of harassment, while people earning their livelihoods legally were being subjected to such treatment. Kharge said this was not merely a political allegation, adding that Roy’s family had also raised similar concerns.

#WATCH | Confident Group owner CJ Roy found dead | Bengaluru | Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says, “This is nothing but pure harassment by IT and ED officials… We all know how IT, ED and GST are being used to harass SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises), MSMEs (Micro, Small &… pic.twitter.com/EilZkEjGfq

— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2026

“These agencies have been turned into tools of harassment. But people who are earning their livelihood legally are subjected to such harassment. This is not just a political allegation–the family has also said the same. Whatever the case may be, we will investigate it. We will even investigate the IT officials who were present there.” he said.

Earlier in the day, Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said that Roy’s company had been raided by the Income Tax Department in December 2025 and was given 60 days to file a chargesheet.

Speaking to mediapersons in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said the deadline to file the chargesheet was February 4, and Roy had returned from Dubai three days ago. He added that Roy cooperated with the Income Tax officials who visited his office to record his statement.

“His (CJ Roy) company was raided by the IT department in December. They were given 60 days to file a charge sheet. The deadline was set for the February 4 and he arrived from Dubai three days ago. The officials (Income Tax) went to his office to record his statement. He (Roy) responded to that,” Parameshwara told reporters.

On Saturday, the wife and son of CJ Roy reached the post-mortem centre at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru. His wife, Lina Roy, and son, Rohith Roy, arrived at the hospital mortuary along with Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee president Mohammed Nalapad.

Meanwhile, officials said forensic teams, including the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams, are investigating the case. Officials said Income Tax raids had been conducted at Roy’s premises over the past two days.

Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said, “An incident occurred today within the limits of Ashok Nagar police station, where the chairman of the Confident Group (CJ Roy) shot himself. The SOCO and FSL teams are investigating the matter. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.” (ANI)