Mangaluru: Veteran BJP leader SM Krishna's son-in-law, who is the owner of Cafe Coffee Day, VG Siddhartha is missing since July 29 leaving the family members in shock. His phone has been switched off since Monday night. 

Siddhartha was on his way to Mangaluru, Karnataka, and is currently not traceable. Dakshina Kannada Police have intensified their search for the businessman.

According to sources, Siddhartha had gone on Monday to Chikkamagalur on a business trip on his Innova car. From there, he was to travel to Kerala. But he asked the driver to stop his car at National Highway in Jeppina Mogaru near Mangaluru and got down from the vehicle.

The car driver is said to have told family members  that Siddhartha asked him to stop the car at Jepoina Mogaru after which he got down from the vehicle. Siddhartha was allegedly speaking over the phone when he instructed the driver. 

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The driver waited for Siddhartha, but when he did not return even after half an hour, the driver made a call to Siddarth but it was switched off. He informed Siddhartha's family about the same immediately.

Jeppina Mogaru, where Siddhartha went missing is situated on the banks of Nethravathi river. 

The Dakshina Kannada Police, under the leadership of DCPs Hanumantharaya and Lakshmi Ganesh, have collected the necessary details from the driver and are trying to trace Siddarth. 

Siddhartha hails from Chikkamagaluru and is married to the daughter of former chief minister of Karnataka, SM Krishna. After completing his post graduation, Siddhartha started working at JM Financial Limited in Mumbai. Later, he shifted to Bengaluru and started a company in the name of Sivan Securities. The company was renamed Global Technology Ventures in the year 2000. 

Along with that he also started the Cafe Coffee Day chain. He has been credited with making the Chikkamagaluru coffee popular worldwide.