Body of Cafe Coffee Day founder VG Siddhartha was found early on Wednesday morning two days after he went missing from a bridge near Mangaluru in Karnataka.
His body was recovered from the Netravati River after massive search operations by the police and local fishermen.
The body of the coffee baron was found floating in the backwaters of the river by two fishermen around 6.30 am, during the massive search operation that was launched on Monday night by the state government after his driver filed a complaint that Siddhartha went missing from the road bridge over the river.
The Coast Guard and NDRF had joined police in the search operations on Tuesday, with deep divers being deployed from Kochi.
The police had on Tuesday suspected that the son-in-law of former Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna might have committed suicide by jumping into the river.
The businessman was last seen on the river bridge on Monday night. He reportedly got down from his car near the Netravati river bridge and asked his driver Basavaraj Patil to go ahead and wait.
When he didn’t come back after an hour the driver contacted the police and registered a missing complaint.
Siddhartha, 60, is the eldest son-in-law of BJP’s senior leader and state’s former CM SM Krishna.
Earlier in March, Siddhartha sold his entire 20 per cent equity stake in consultancy firm Mindtree to engineering and construction company Larsen & Toubro Ltd for Rs. 3,300 crore.
Meanwhile, a letter has emerged reportedly written by VG Siddhartha to the management and employees of CCD in which he has expressed unhappiness over not creating “the right profitable business”.
The letter also talks about the harassment he had allegedly faced at the hands of tax officials.
Meanwhile, friends and relatives have confirmed that the body belongs to VG Siddhartha.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa expressed shock over Siddhartha’s death and offered his heartfelt condolences to the family members.
BJP politician Shobha Karandlaje who had earlier sought help from Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh in the case, tweeted: “A tragic end to the coffee King #VGsiddartha is really disappointing. My heart goes out to the family, friends & his well-wishers. He’ll forever live in the heart & minds of thousands. Indeed a great loss to country! #OmShanthi”.
A tragic end to the coffee King #VGsiddartha is really disappointing.
My heart goes out to the family, friends & his well-wishers. He’ll forever live in the heart & minds of thousands.
Indeed a great loss to country!#OmShanthi
— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) July 31, 2019
The Karnataka Congress termed the case as “very unfortunate”.
#VGSiddhartha case is very unfortunate.
Result of harassment by IT officials & decline of India’s entrepreneurial position turning virulent by the day, with Tax Terror & collapse of economy
Companies which flourished under UPA have been shut down with many people being jobless pic.twitter.com/rbwUymoM3B
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) July 31, 2019
Congress leader Siddaramaiah offered condolences to the family of the deceased businessman.
“Very sad to know about the unfortunate death of Shri. V G Siddhartha. His contribution to Karnataka & India through his entrepreneurship shall be an example & always be remembered. My deepest condolences to Shri. S M Krishna and family members & well-wishers of Siddhartha,” tweeted Siddaramaiah.
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra tweeted that entrepreneurs must not allow business failure to destroy their self-esteem.
Karnataka leader G Parameshwara offered his deepest condolences to SM Krishna and other family members.