VG Siddhartha missing: Congress' DK Shivakumar says the CCD founder called on July 28

Congress leader DK Shivakumar said he got a call  from missing Cafe Coffee Day founder VG Siddhartha on July 28.

Siddhartha asked if they could meet, Shivakumar said in a tweet. He also called the letter written by Siddhartha to the board and employees "utterly fishy".

Cafe Coffee Day founder VG Siddhartha has been missing since last night and police has begun search operations.

However, I find this utterly fishy and urge that a thorough Investigation be conducted into this matter.

Shri Siddhartha and his family were closely known to me for decades now.

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— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) July 30, 2019

Siddhartha got off his car at a bridge near the Nethravati River, near Mangaluru. The driver alerted family members after he didn't return for an hour.

The driver said Siddhartha was on a phone call when he got off the car. Helicopters and Coast Guard have been called for search operations.

Also read: Karnataka BJP MPs meet Amit Shah; seek help to trace missing CCD founder

The Dakshina Kannada police have launched a search near the Nethravati River.

Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil said that the search operation is using a boat service and the help of local fishermen.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), too, has been deployed. 

"Yesterday,he left from Bengaluru saying he is going to Sakleshpur. But on the way, he told his driver to go to Mangaluru. On reaching Nethravati river bridge, he got down from the car, asked his driver to go ahead and stop," Patil told ANI.

Patil added that the police is checking whom Siddhartha spoke to last.

Siddhartha is former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna's son-in-law.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and BL Shankar visited SM Krishna's residence early in the morning, ANI reports.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy also visited SM Krishna.

Patil added that he has spoken to Siddhartha's family members in Bengaluru, including SM Krishna.

#Breaking | Karnataka: VG Siddhartha, son-in-law of former CM SM Krishna and the founder-owner of Cafe Coffee Day, has gone missing near Netravati River in Mangaluru; Search operation underway.

Read more: https://t.co/54pO5EnBE2 | @CafeCoffeeDay pic.twitter.com/11n33qTS1M

— moneycontrol (@moneycontrolcom) July 30, 2019

"He (Siddhartha) asked the driver to wait till his arrival. When he did not return even after two hours, the driver approached the police and lodged a missing complaint," deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district Senthil Sasikant Senthil told PTI.

To assuage investor concerns after the stock fell 20 percent, Coffee Day Enterprises made a statement to the stock exchanges.

"We are taking the help of concerned authorities. Company is professionally managed and led by competent leadership team, which will ensure continuity of business," the company said in the statement.

Coffee Day Enterprises might hold a board meeting at 3 pm on July 30, sources told CNBC-TV18.

VG Siddhartha recently sold 20.3 percent stake in Mindtree to L&T.

Also read - From exports to espresso: Journey of CCD's brewing empire

As of March 2019, Cafe Coffee Day has 1,752 outlets across India. Coffee Day Enterprises clocked revenue of Rs 1,777 crore and Rs 1,814 crore In FY18 and 19 respectively. The company is eyeing revenue of Rs 2,250 crore by March 2020.

The first Cafe Coffee Day in 1996 at Brigade Road, Bengaluru.

Siddhartha also established a hospitality chain which operates the Serai and Cicada resorts.