The recent death by suicide of a high-profile real estate magnate in Bengaluru has been the subject matter of intense speculation in social media, including his appointment as Honorary Consul for Slovakia.

Dr Roy CJ, founder and chairman of the Confident Group, was appointed the Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic in 2017, heading the consulate in Bengaluru with jurisdiction over Karnataka and Kerala.

Following his sudden death by suicide in January 2026 amid income tax searches, it was noted that Roy had previously cited his diplomatic status as Honorary Consul in correspondence with the authorities. This was also commented upon by social media users, bringing to the limelight the curious role of Honorary Consuls.

Honorary consuls or Special Diplomats are part-time volunteer diplomats, representing the interests of countries that appoint them, often in ceremonial ways. They receive some of the same perks and protections granted to regular diplomats, including the privilege to move consular “pouches" across borders without inspection by Customs.

Kerala’s social media users were quick to point out how Customs officials at the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram had seized gold weighing over 30 kg, valued at around ₹14.8 crore, on July 5, 2020, from diplomatic baggage. Evidence shows at least 180 kg of gold were smuggled through diplomatic channels into Kerala from July 2019, using the route 20 times.

For any diplomatic bag, two sets of authorisation are necessary — one from the Foreign Office of the country from where it is being sent and a letter from the diplomat or consulate receiving it. In this case, it is the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs department that handles such diplomatic bags and issues the authorisation letter to send the bag. This letter also essentially declares the contents in the bag. Although the bag was addressed to the wife of the UAE Consular agent, it is not known if it was meant for diplomatic purposes or personal use of the official’s family. Either way, diplomatic bags can contain articles “for official use of the Mission or personal use of a Consular agent or members of his........

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