'Unbelievable Tragedy': UAE's Business Community Mourns Loss Of Dr CJ Roy

2026-01-31 02:29:07

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A close friend of the deceased said he met Dr Roy's distraught wife and children and assured them whatever assistance they needed before they left for the Indian city of Bangalore

PUBLISHED: Sat 31 Jan 2026, 1:46 PM

By:
Nasreen Abdulla

For years, Dubai restaurateur Shaijil Hussain was a close friend of the late Dr CJ Roy. They often met up and discussed several things including business and family. On Friday, Shaijil said he was shocked when he first heard news of the multimillionaire's death.“I didn't believe it,” he told Khaleej Times.“I immediately went to his house in Emirates Hills. That is when I realised that the tragic news was true.”

He said he met Dr Roy's distraught wife and children and assured them whatever assistance they needed before they left for the Indian city of Bangalore.

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It was on Friday that shockwaves rippled through the business community in India and UAE when Dr Roy died amidst an ongoing income tax raid at his office premises. While Indian media are reporting that his death was a suicide, investigations are underway. A family friend confirmed to Khaleej Times that the entrepreneur retreated to his office room and a gunshot was heard.

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Shaijil said he had last spoken to Dr Roy last week.“We had met when I sent over some food to him before he left for Bangalore,” he recalled.“I had plans to open a restaurant in Bangalore and he insisted that I do it in one of his buildings. Last week, I spoke to him about the project and he sounded very positive about it. That is how he was - always ready to help anyone. He was very attached to his family and went everywhere with them.”

'He was a good friend'

Faizal Malabar had known Dr Roy for more than a decade but they became close friends only in the last year or so.“I had known him socially for several years,” he said.“But it was only when he launched his property in Dubai that we began interacting more and we became close.”

In November, Dr Roy traveled to India to attend Faisal's housewarming ceremony in Kerala. In a video posted on Instagram, Dr. Roy can be seen arriving in a helicopter and interacting with Faisal's family.“That was the last time I saw him in person,” he recalled.“We had messaged each other for new year's and I spoke to him about two weeks ago. He was someone with a very generous heart and that is something I realised when I got close to him. He was a good friend and always ready to help those close to him. I can't believe that he is gone.”

Another Dubai-based businessman Paul recalled how he first met Dr. Roy almost a decade ago.“My company was the one that did the architecture and interior designing of his house in Emirates Hills,” he said.“When you are designing someone's house, you tend to get very close to them. I didn't know him very well professionally but I had a very good personal relationship with him and his family. What happened is truly an unbelievable tragedy.”

The founder and chairman of Confident Group, Dr. Roy was well known for his philanthropy.“I have known him since the time he was the main sponsor of KMCC UAE's project to provide free heart surgeries to 100 underprivileged people in Kerala,” said Nizar Thalangara, President of Indian Association Sharjah in a press note.“He was someone who was the source of livelihood for tens of thousands of people and a beacon of hope for an entire generation. His death is truly a loss for the entire community.”