Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jun 19: Muttiah Muralitharan, the renowned cricketer from Sri Lanka, is set to invest Rs 1,400 crore in phases to start a beverage and confectionery business at Badanakuppe in Chamarajanagar district, announced M B Patil, the minister for large and medium industries.

On Tuesday, minister Patil had discussions with Muralitharan, who visited him in Bengaluru regarding this investment.

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister stated that Muralitharan will be launching his business under the brand Muttiah Beverages and Confectioneries' at Badanakuppe. Initially, a plan for an investment of Rs 230 crore was formulated, which has now increased to Rs 1,000 crore, and Muralitharan has informed that it will eventually reach Rs 1,400 crore.

He added that 46 acres of land have already been allocated for this venture. There were a few minor issues related to this land, which have been addressed and resolved. Production activities at the Badanakuppe facility are expected to commence in January of the coming year.

The minister also mentioned that Muralitharan plans to establish another unit in Dharwad in the near future.

Present at the meeting were Selvakumar, principal secretary of the industrial department; Gunjan Krishna, commissioner; Dr Mahesh, CEO of KIADB; and Dodda Basavaraju, managing director of Udyoga Mitra.