Datta Phuge Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Bio/Wiki
Full name	Datta Dnyaneshwar Phuge [1]Zauba Corp
Names earned	Gold Man, Pimpri Goldman [2]FirstPost [3]The Guardian
Profession(s)	Businessman ,Money-Lender
Famous For	Having a 22-carat pure gold shirt worth Rs 1.27 crore ($240,000) made for himself in 2013
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	in centimeters- 175 cm in meters- 1.75 m in feet & inches- 5’ 9”
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Personal Life
Date of Birth	14 July 1968 (Sunday)
Birthplace	Maharashtra
Date of Death	14 July 2016
Place of Death	Bharat Mata Nagar, Dighi, within the Pimpri-Chinchwad township, Maharashtra
Age (at the time of death)	48 Years
Death Cause	Murder
Zodiac sign	Cancer
Nationality	India
Hometown	Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra
Religion	Hinduism
Political Inclination	Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
Relationships & More
Marital Status (at the time of death)	Married
Family
Wife/Spouse	Seema Phuge (also spelt Seema Fuge) (ex-municipal corporator who belonged to the Nationalist Congress Party)
Children	Son- Shubham Phuge (image in Wife/Spouse section)
Parents	Father- Dnyaneshwar Phuge Mother- Name Not Known

Some Lesser Known Facts About Datta Phuge

• Datta Phuge or Dattatrey D. Phuge ^[4]The Hindu was an Indian businessman and millionaire money-lender who ran Vakratunda Chit Fund Pvt Ltd in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area. He came into the limelight for having a 22-carat pure gold shirt worth Rs 1.27 crore made for himself in 2013.

• Since childhood, he was fond of buying gold jewellery and ornaments. In an interview, while explaining the reason behind his fascination with gold, he said,
  

  When I was at college, people would say you were from a rich family if you had gold. So from the age of 20, I started wearing gold. Back then in smaller quantities, like 10 or 15 g.”

• Phuge had a modest upbringing, and he pursued his formal education at Pune University.

• He managed a jewellery store initially, but in 2009, he and his wife ventured into the money-lending business by establishing Vakratunda Chit Fund Pvt Ltd.

• With a profit cycle of every six to eight months, he would celebrate his success by acquiring gold items. He would occasionally flaunt his gold bracelets, rings, and chains. In an interview, he said,
  

  Some people ask me why I’m wearing so much gold but it was my dream. People have different aspirations. Some elite people want to own an Audi or Mercedes, and have big cars. I chose gold.”

• Like her husband, Seema too developed a penchant for gold. Datta Phuge would buy her kgs of gold. In an interview, while talking about his wife, he said,
  

  She owns 500kg of gold, I’ve bought her necklaces and bags made from it” ^[5]BBC

• The year 2013 marked his rise to fame as he gained attention for owning a gold shirt worth 1.27 crores. The former jeweller’s transition into a financier brought allegations of financial impropriety within his company, leading to various conflicts. Local individuals reportedly invested their funds in his chit-fund enterprise, while Phuge provided loans to many at notably high-interest rates.

• His wife Seema Phuge, contested and emerged victorious in the municipal elections of 2012, representing the NCP from the Bhosari-Gaothan locality (Ward 35-A). The seat was reserved for an OBC candidate. In 2013, she faced dismissal from her PCMC position due to the presentation of a bogus caste certificate. ^[6]The Indian Express

• In 2013, Phuge garnered international recognition for having a 22-carat solid gold shirt made for himself. The estimated value of the shirt was around Rs 1.27 crore, calculated based on the prevailing gold rate at that time. The shirt boasted six dazzling Swarovski crystal buttons and was accompanied by opulent accessories such as a flamboyant gold belt, rings, chains, bracelets, and an ‘Om’ pendant, collectively amounting to an outfit worth approximately Rs 7 crores. ^[7]NDTV – YouTubeThis shirt claimed the title of the world’s most expensive attire at that juncture, weighing roughly 3.5 kilograms of pure gold. Renowned Ranka Jewellers, situated in Pune, were the masterminds behind its creation. Adorned with over 14,000 intricate gold flowers and more than 100,000 meticulously attached spangles on a backdrop of luxurious velvet, the gold shirt was designed for both extravagance and ease of wear, resembling regular clothing. On February 6, 2013, the Guinness Book of World Records officially recognized it as the costliest shirt, valuing Rs. 66,15,481 ($120,2019). ^[8]Aaj Tak – YouTube
  

  A picture of Datta Phuge wearing his gold shirt

• Datta Phuge met a brutal end on his birthday, 14 July 2016, at approximately 11:30 pm, when unidentified individuals attacked and killed him. His lifeless body, along with his severely injured head, was discovered in Bharat Mata Nagar, Dighi, within the Pimpri-Chinchwad township. The assailants reportedly pulled Phuge out of his car, assaulted him with a sickle, and proceeded to bludgeon him to death with large stones before making their escape. Tragically, Datta Phuge’s son, Shubham, and his friend Rohan Panchal were unfortunate witnesses to this gruesome act while they were delivering biryani, under the impression that they were attending a party. In his account, Shubham revealed that a friend of his father named Atul Mohite had deceived Datta by inviting him to a birthday celebration. Around 10 pm, Mohite collected Datta Phuge from his residence, claiming they were heading to the party. Just before leaving, Mohite instructed Shubham to pack biryani and deliver it to the alleged party venue in Dighi. Upon arriving at the location, Shubham was horrified to find around a dozen individuals surrounding his father’s car, violently attacking him with sharp weapons and stones. ^[9]Mumbai Mirror Shubham recognized most of these attackers, as they were acquainted with his father. He reported the incident to the Dighi police station, leading to the identification and charges against a total of nine suspects, including Amol alias Balli Kailas Pathare, Shailesh Suryakant Walke, Vishal Parkhe, Nivrutti alias Bal Kisan Walke, Atul Amrut Mohite, Shaukat Attar, Sushant alias Babu Pawar, Tushar Jadhav, and Prem alias Kakka Dholpuriya. One of these suspects was Phuge’s nephew. ^[10]The Indian Express Mahesh Suryawanshi, another eyewitness, informed the police that only the primary accused, Atul Mohite, along with co-accused Shaukat Attar, Sushant alias Babu Pawar, and Tushar Jadhav, were directly involved in assaulting Phuge. ^[11]The Times of India Phuge was known for his association with Vakratunda Chit Fund Company in the Bhosari area, where many individuals from regions like Bhosari, Vishrantwadi, and other parts of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad entrusted their funds. He was also involved in lending money at exorbitant interest rates. Authorities believed that the motive behind the murder might have been related to financial disputes between Phuge and several investors who were allegedly not repaid their investments. Subsequently, investigators revealed that Datta Phuge was murdered by his son’s friends, aiming to recover a debt of Rs. 1.5 lakh that he owed them. ^[12]NDTV During the investigation, it was discovered that Phuge’s renowned gold shirt had mysteriously disappeared. While family members claimed that Ranka Jewellers, the creators of the shirt, were in possession of it, the jewellers denied these allegations. ^[13]Aaj Tak – YouTube

• In July 2021, Shubham Phuge, the son of Datta Phuge, along with his accomplice Prathamesh Waykar, were apprehended by the Bhosari police for allegedly committing the murder of their 27-year-old associate, Aman Dangle. Law enforcement stated that the killing resulted from a disagreement that arose while the group was consuming alcohol on Phuge’s terrace in Bhosari. Allegedly, Aman Dangle slapped Phuge during the heated argument, prompting Phuge and Waykar to transport Dangle to Bhosarigaon, where they mercilessly attacked him with sharp weapons. ^[14]Times of India