Police are searching near the Netravati river for VG Siddhartha
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 Mangaluru in Karnataka, the police said. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and BL Shankar visited the Bengaluru home of BJP leader SM Krishna this morning. Police have been searching for Mr Siddhartha near the Netravati river in Mangaluru, where he was last seen, according to reports.
Here are the updates on this developing story:
JDS leader Deve Gowda met with SM Krishna at his residence
Coast Guard and NDRF have joined the search operations, with deep divers called in from Kochi
"This incident is hard to believe, I've asked for an investigation. He is an asset to the country, we don't know if he is missing or someone has taken him away," Congress leader DK Shivakumar said
Cafe Coffee Day shares have plunged after VG Siddhartha went missing. Read full story
hereVG Siddhartha reportedly sent a letter to the management and employees of the coffee chain before he went missing on a bridge in Mangaluru in Karnataka on Monday.
In a letter that Mr Siddhartha reportedly wrote, he expressed unhappiness over not creating "the right profitable business" and alleged "harassment" by a senior income tax officer, news agency ANI reported. Read full story
here
"Apart from the police, officers of the coastal police, home guards, fire and emergency services are all cooperating in the search operations. Along with them, our special divers are also part of the operations," DCP Hanumantha said
The Police Commissioner said that a dog squad being used for the search and rescue operations stopped at a point in the middle of the bridge
The driver, in his statement, said he tried to call Mr Siddhartha but his phone was switched off
According to VG Siddhartha's driver's statement, the CCD founder asked him to head to Sakleshpur from Bengaluru. En route, he asked his driver to head to Mangalore. He then asked him to stop by a bridge and told him he will visit a site and return
"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
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil said that boat service and help of local fishermen is being taken to conduct search operation in the Netravati river