Nine-page note under SIT scrutiny in Confident Group chairman’s death
Bengaluru (PTI): The SIT probing the alleged suicide of Confident Group chairman C J Roy is examining multiple papers and documents seized during the investigation, including a nine-page note purportedly written by the real estate baron in red ink, police sources said on Monday.
"We are currently examining several papers and documents obtained from Roy’s family members and associates, including nine pages of notes suspected to have been written by him in red ink," a senior police officer said.
The notes mention multiple issues on various occasions, which are under examination. Further details cannot be disclosed at this stage, he added.
The case is presently registered as an unnatural death report, while the angle of abetment to suicide has not yet been taken up.
"As the investigation progresses, further action will be taken based on the outcome," the officer said.
Statements of persons connected to Roy are being recorded as part of the probe, though details cannot be disclosed at this point, he added.
The founder and chairman of the real estate firm Confident Group allegedly died by suicide on January 30 after sustaining bullet injuries from his licensed firearm at his office near Richmond Circle in the city.
The incident occurred on the day a team of Income Tax officials from Kerala was questioning him, following searches conducted over the previous three days.
Roy had been under the Income Tax department’s scanner since December last year, when his office and premises were searched.
Details of the raids are yet to be made public, and it remains unclear whether the Income Tax officials have been questioned by the Special Investigation Team.
Sources also said Roy had been consulting a psychiatrist, indicating that he was under stress.
The SIT has also questioned Roy’s office staff as part of the investigation, sources added.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
