Confident Group Managing Director Denies Income Tax Harassment in Chairman's Death
Confident Group Managing Director T A Joseph has categorically rejected claims that Income Tax (I-T) Department harassment contributed to the death of company chairman C J Roy, who died by suspected suicide at his Bengaluru office on January 30.
Dispute Over Allegations
Roy's brother, C J Babu, had previously suggested that stress from alleged I-T harassment led to Roy's actions. However, Joseph firmly dismissed these allegations on Monday, stating, "I had told him (Babu) not to raise such allegations. Income Tax has not harassed anyone, and we (Roy and I) are not persons who will submit to such harassment."
The managing director emphasized that the company has faced no issues regarding the I-T investigation and described the probe as routine rather than linked to any detected offences.
Details of the Investigation
Joseph provided context about the I-T Department's activities, explaining that similar inspections occurred in 2016 and again in 2025 at the company's Bengaluru and Kochi offices. "When the search was going on in Kochi, I was at the office. I-T officials behaved very reasonably with us. We have not faced any trouble from them. I am sure the same process had taken place in Bengaluru also," he stated.
The incident occurred when Roy is believed to have shot himself at his office while I-T officials were present in the building conducting their investigation.
Company Operations and Integrity
Addressing concerns about the company's business practices, Joseph asserted, "Our company has no illegal activities such as money laundering or benami dealings. We are not engaged in any illegal business."
He described Roy as a strong man but declined to comment further on his death since the matter is under investigation by a special investigation team.
Reassurance to Clients
Joseph sought to reassure the company's clients in the wake of the chairman's death, stating, "All our works are progressing well. The clients' money is safe. Work has resumed at all construction sites."
The managing director's statements come as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Roy's death, which has drawn significant attention to the relationship between business entities and regulatory bodies in India.
