BENGALURU: VG Siddhartha, the founder of the popular chain Cafe Coffee Day and son-in-law of former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna, has gone missing from near a river in Mangaluru in Karnataka, the police say. He was last seen on a bridge over the Netravati river in the coastal town, according to reports.
The police have launched a massive search operation near the 1-km-long bridge; divers are scanning the muddy river. Cops on inflatable boats have joined the search.
Mr Siddhartha's driver claims that the businessman got off the bridge and walked away.
Karnataka BJP leader Jnanendra told reporters the businessman asked the driver to wait but when he didn't return for an hour, the driver got anxious and informed the police.
The BJP leader said Mr Siddhartha's father is unwell and is in a hospital in Mysuru.
"I am very shocked that our friend, a very good man, who has given so thousands of jobs, is missing since yesterday night. All sorts of possibilities are there - might have got into another car, accidentally fell into water. We pray for his safety," said former Congress minister UT Khader, who had gone to the bridge over the Netravati river to see the search operation.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa visited the Bengaluru home of BJP leader SM Krishna this morning. Top leaders DK Shivakumar and BL Shankar from Mr Krishna's former party, the Congress, also visited him. A large number of leaders and well-wishers have also gathered at his home.
Mr Siddhartha's offices were raided by income tax officers in September 2017. He is among the country's largest exporters of coffee bean. His family has been in the coffee-growing business for more than 130 years, according to his profile page on the website of consultancy firm Mindtree, where he is a non-executive director.