The body of Cafe Coffee Day owner VG Siddhartha was found on the shores of Netravati river in Mangaluru today after 36 hours of search. Final rites were performed at his farm in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, as more than 10,000 people bid adieu to the CCD founder.
Chikkamagaluru: The last rites of Cafe Coffee Day owner VG Siddhartha were held at his farm in Chethanahalli, Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka today.
The funeral pyre was lit by Siddhartha's elder son Amarthya. Late Siddhartha's sons Amarthya and younger son Ishan brought the body to Chathanahalli, where he was cremated.
The funeral pyre was prepared with logs of sandalwood, jackfruit tree, banyan tree. Final rites were held according to the beliefs and rituals of the Vokkaliga community. Halappa Shetty of Gowthavalli village conducted the final rites.
More than 10,000 people witnessed the last rites including father-in-law SM Krishna, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, former CM HD Kumaraswamy, Siddaramaiah former IPS officer Annamalai, and others.
The arrangements were made by LR Shivaramegowda, former ministers DC Thammanna, Jayachandra, Ramanath Rai, current MLA of Chikkamagaluru constituency CT Ravi and Legislative Council member Pranesh.
Siddhartha's father Gangaish Hegde is in coma and is being treated at a hospital in Mysuru. Siddhartha's mother Vasanthi Hedge, wife Malavika Hegde and sons Amarthya and Ishan broke down when Siddhartha's mortal remains were brought to Chikkamagaluru.
The mortal remains were kept for the public to pay their respects at ABC Coffee Curing Centre in Chikkamagaluru, before being shifted to Chathanahalli where the final rites were held.
Siddhartha went missing on Monday (July 29) evening from Netravati bridge in Mangaluru. He had asked his driver to wait at a distance when he walked towards the bridge. When Siddhartha did not return even after half an hour, the driver tried to call him, but the phone was switched off.
The family and police were informed and the search for Siddhartha started. While there were speculations that he may have committed suicide, after a 36-hour search operation, his body was found on the shores of Netravati in Mangaluru, today (July 31).
Postmortem was conducted at Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru and then the mortal remains were taken to Chikkamagaluru.
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