Nearly a month after demise of Cafe Coffee Day owner VG Siddhartha, his father Gangaiah Hegde passed away on Sunday at a Shanthaveri Gopala Gowda hospital in Mysuru after a prolonged illness. According to the relatives of the deceased, the cremation will take place in Chikmagalur on Monday.
The 96-year-old coffee planter’s wife Vaasanthi, daughter-in-law Malavika and two grandchildren were by his side when he breathed his last.
He was a wealthy coffee planter and a highly revered person in Chikmagalur district. He was known for his discipline and had earned the respect of the people. In fact, until a few years back, he used to himself visit the local market to purchase groceries. He was also said to be a huge influence on the life of his son, who was his only child.
Gangaiah was admitted to the hospital over a month ago and he had not been informed of his son Siddhartha’s death on July 29 because of his age and medical condition.
Siddhartha went missing on July 29 from the Netravati Bridge, after he had told his driver that he was going to take a walk. His driver panicked when he did not return in an hour, and informed the family
Later his body was found on the banks of Netravati River near Hoige Bazaar in Mangaluru on July 31. He had allegedly jumped off into the Nethravathi river and police have so far ruled out any foul play in his death.
