CJ Roy Postmortem Shows Close-Range Single Gunshot Wound, Bullet Pierced Heart, Rules Out Assault Marks

The Karnataka government has ordered a Special Investigation Team to probe the death of Bengaluru-based realtor and Confident Group chairman CJ Roy, as scrutiny intensifies over the circumstances surrounding his suicide and the conduct of officials during recent income tax raids.

Post-mortem findings have confirmed that Roy died due to a single gunshot wound to the left side of his chest. The bullet pierced the heart and remained lodged inside the body. Doctors reported no other external injuries apart from the entry wound, ruling out signs of physical assault or multiple injuries. Dr Aravind, who conducted the autopsy, said the cause of death was clearly the gunshot injury and that the bullet did not exit the body.

Police said Roy allegedly shot himself on Friday using an Austria-made 6.35 mm pistol. Investigators believe the weapon was held in his right hand and fired at close range. As part of the investigation, Forensic Science Laboratory teams are examining Roy's palms and fingers for gunpowder residue, while blood samples have been sent for DNA analysis. Officials said the SIT will place significant reliance on forensic evidence, along with witness statements and electronic records, to reconstruct the events leading up to the death.

The SIT's mandate extends beyond the immediate cause of death. Investigators will examine allegations made by Roy's brother CJ Babu, who has raised questions about the conduct of income tax officials during raids on the Confident Group. The probe will assess the sequence of enforcement actions, the duration of the raids, and whether Roy was subjected to undue pressure in the days preceding his death.

The case has triggered sharp political reactions in Karnataka. Congress leaders have linked Roy's death to alleged harassment by central agencies, demanding accountability and transparency. Party spokesperson M Lakshman questioned the manner in which the raids were conducted and called for answers on Roy's treatment during the operation. Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge alleged a broader pattern of pressure on businessmen, particularly those running small and medium enterprises, while Commerce and Industries Minister M B Patil said economic offences should be handled as civil matters rather than criminal investigations that create fear.

The BJP rejected the allegations, with Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy defending income tax officials and stating that agencies must be allowed to perform their statutory duties without political interference.

With forensic reports awaited and the SIT examining both scientific evidence and agency conduct, the death of CJ Roy is expected to remain under close political and public scrutiny, as investigators work to establish whether the suicide was influenced by external pressure or procedural lapses.