Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan seeks judicial probe into real estate tycoon C J Roy's death; Congress seeks discussion in Lok Sabha

In a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Vijayan says there were serious lapses on the part of Income Tax officials in following the protocol while conducting search operation at Roy's office

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Centre to order a judicial probe into the death of Confident Group chairman C J Roy in Bengaluru on January 30.

In a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, Vijayan said there were serious lapses on the part of Income Tax officials in following the protocol while conducting search operation at Roy's office.

The family of the real estate tycoon also alleged that there was harassment by IT Department officials. An impartial inquiry is essential and the best option would be to order a judicial inquiry by an incumbent or retired judge, he said.

"While being in complete agreement that tax evasion is a serious problem and every effort has to be taken to curb it, no action leading to loss of a precious human life can be justified in a civilised democratic society," Vijayan said in the letter.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Hibi Eden submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha on Monday seeking discussion on the death of Roy.

(With inputs from DHNS, Delhi)