I have surrendered my son as I respect law,' says ex-mayor Ashraf

January 16, 2012

Mangalore, January 16: “My son is innocent. He has been made a scapegoat by my political adversaries. Since I have enormous respect for law, I have asked him to surrender before the police. But I am hopeful that justice will prevail,” said K. Ashraf, former mayor, reacting to the 15-day judicial remand given to his son Araf in a drug-related case.

Araf, 17, has been named a key accused in the case of alleged drugging following which a teenaged girl was hospitalized for nearly two months in Mangalore six months ago.

In response to the complaints lodged by the girl's father Arjun, separate FIRs had been filed by Kadri and Kankanady police. Araf and his friends were also accused of threatening the girl and her parents while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Araf had evaded arrest and was said to be staying in his relative's place in Mumbai. The police had even gone to Mumbai looking for him, but had to return empty handed.

“Although the police had filed booked cases against several people, only my son was being chased like a criminal,” Mr. Ashraf said, but insisted the justice will prevail. He also wondered how did the police book a case against his son of threatening the girl on the hospital premises, where there had not been any complaint from the concerned hospital.

“This is a clear case of vendetta. There are people both inside my party and outside, who want to finish me politically, they have foisted a case against my son. They cannot take me on politically,” Mr. Ashraf, who is also the president of the Congress City Block.

The former mayor had a couple of months ago threatened to resign from the party for leaving him in the lurch when he had been unnecessarily harassed by the police. But following assurances from the Congress leaders including Veerappa Moily and Oscar Fernandes he had backed out. In fact, he had convened a press meet to announce his resignation and called off the briefing at the last minute, without citing any reasons.

The Hindutva organisations had supported the cause of Arjun's daughter and had demanded action against the accused. They had also given memoranda to the city police several times and had accused them of yielding to political pressure when the “drug mafia was gaining strength”.

The outfits had also warned of Hindu girls being lured into drug abuse as part of “Love Jihad”, and being converted to Islam in places like Ponnani.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

From Dubai boom to Bengaluru backlash: Inside CJ Roy’s journey

News Network

January 31,2026

Bengaluru: The shooting incident involving CJ Roy, founder of the Confident Group, has once again put the spotlight on a businessman whose life has swung between flamboyant global success and persistent controversy at home.

Though Roy’s business interests extended across continents, his roots lay firmly in Karnataka. An alumnus of Christ School in Bengaluru, he later moved to Tumakuru to pursue an engineering degree. Those familiar with his early years describe him as intensely ambitious, beginning his career as a salesman at a small electronics firm dealing in computers.

Roy’s entry into large-scale real estate came through the Crystal Group, where he worked closely with Latha Namboothiri and rose from manager to director. However, the launch of the Confident Group in 2005 was clouded by industry speculation. Insiders speak of a fallout involving alleged “benami” properties and claims of deception that ultimately led to his independent venture—an episode Roy spent years trying to distance himself from, according to associates.

A tale of two cities

Roy’s professional trajectory diverged sharply across geographies.

In Dubai, he built a reputation as a bold and efficient developer, completing massive luxury residential projects in record time—some reportedly within 11 months. His rapid project delivery and lavish lifestyle in the Emirates earned him admiration and visibility in the real estate sector.

In Bengaluru, however, his image remained far more fractured. Sources say Roy stayed away from the city for several years amid disputes over unpaid dues to vendors and suppliers. Several projects were allegedly stalled, with accusations of unfulfilled commitments to cement and steel suppliers continuing to follow him.

Roy’s return to Bengaluru’s business and social circles began around 2018, marked by a conscious attempt at rebranding. His appointment as Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic added diplomatic legitimacy, which he complemented with visible CSR initiatives, including ambulance donations and high-profile charity events.

Heavy police presence in Langford Town

Following the incident, police personnel from the Central division were deployed outside the Confident Group building in Langford Town, which also houses the Slovak Honorary Consulate in Bengaluru.

The otherwise busy premises near Hosur Road wore a deserted look on Friday, reflecting the shock and uncertainty that followed the tragedy.

Comments