MANGALURU: VG Siddhartha, the founder-owner of Indian cafe chain, Cafe Coffee Day (CCD), has gone missing near Netravati river in Mangaluru.

The police have launched a search operation in the river to trace him in the Ullal area od Mangaluru. They are using inflatable boats to search the area. Siddhartha is also the son-in-law of the former Karnataka chief minister and Maharashtra Governor SM Krishna.

Congress leader, UT Khadar among others rushed to the site of the search operation. "I was shocked when I got the news. Police Commissioner and DC have ordered a search operation, it is being carried out with support from locals," he said.

Karnataka CM Yediyurappa and Congress leader DK Shivakumar along with BL Shankar rushed to SM Krishna's residence in Bengaluru, early morning today. Yediyaruppa is personally monitoring the search operations.

Meanwhile, the Mangaluru Police Commissioner, Sandeep Patil said,"boat services and help of local fishermen are being taken to conduct search operation in the Netravati river. We are checking with whom all he spoke last".