Search Operation on for Missing Siddhartha in Netravathi River
Mangaluru: The Search has continued on July 30 for V G Siddhartha, the founder of India’s largest coffee chain “Cafe Coffee Day” who also owns Asia’s single-largest coffee estate, who is reported missing since Monday, July 29, evening after asking his driver to stop the car on the Netravathi bridge. It is feared that he might have jumped into the river and drowned.
Speaking to the mediaperson DCP L&O Hanumantharaya said, “The Coastal Security Police, Homeguard and the Fire service special divers have started their search operations from yesterday, July 29 night. The DC and police commissioner have given a written request to the coastguard to provide special equipment along with deep-sea divers and Hoover Craft for the search operations”.
When asked about any suicide note, Hanumantharaya said, “We did not get any suicide note. His driver filed a missing person’s complaint in the Kankanady police station. The incident occurred between 6 to 8 p.m. Siddartha had called at 6 pm and when the driver called his mobile at 7:51 pm it was switched off.”
When asked about any friends or relatives Hanumantharaya said, “His business associate Balu is not here, he is in the US. We have contacted his friends and also tried to find him in all the hotels in the city. We are trying our best to search for Siddhartha”.
Speaking to the mediapersons Halappa Gowda a relative of Siddhartha said, “Siddhartha’s father S Ganga Hegde is not keeping well and Siddhartha had gone to Mysuru from Bengaluru to see him on July 27. I met Siddhartha in Mysuru on that day. He was worried about his father’s health. On 29 evening we came to know through his driver that Siddhartha was missing in Mangaluru.”
Speaking to the mediapersons former Minister U T Khader said, “Siddhartha has helped many people by providing employment. He was a well-disciplined gentleman with helping nature. This is shocking news for all of us. The district administration has taken all measures to find Siddhartha. We are shocked and saddened by the missing news of Siddhartha. We pray for his safe return”.
DC Sasikanth Senthil said, “As soon as we received the information that Siddhartha had gone missing the police began searching for him. We have started our search operations in the Nethravathi river based on suspicions. Experts are also helping us in our search operations. We are utilizing the coast guards, expert divers and hovercraft in the search for Siddhartha.”
When asked about the tracing of Siddhartha, DC Sasikanth Senthil said, “We cannot say anything now. We can come to a conclusion once we get any clue about him. We are now overseeing the search operations. A helicopter is on the way from Goa to assist in the search operations. We have received information from Goa that the weather is clear and the helicopter will reach Mangaluru soon”.
