Datta Phuge (1968-2016) was an Indian businessman and millionaire moneylender who became famous in 2012 for creating a 22-karat solid gold shirt worth $240,000. This event earned him the nicknames “Golden Man” and “Bimbri Gold Man”. He was beaten to death on July 14, 2016, over a financial dispute near Pune’s Dighi.
Wiki/Biography
Dattatrey D. Phuge or Datta Dnyaneshwar Phuge was born on Sunday, July 14, 1968 in Maharashtra (48 years old; at the time of death). He has been fascinated by gold jewelry and ornaments since childhood. In an interview, he explained,
When I was in college, if you had gold, people would say you came from a rich family. So since I was 20 years old, I started wearing gold. The amounts at that time were smaller, like 10 or 15 grams. “
He came from a humble background and received his formal education from Pune University. He used to run a jewelry store. In 2009, he founded Vakratunda Chit Fund Pvt Ltd, a money lending company, with his wife. Every six to eight months, when his company is profitable, he buys something made of gold. In 2013, Phuge became famous for owning a golden shirt worth Rs 127 crore. The jeweler-turned-financier was often accused of embezzling company finances and was embroiled in a number of disputes. Many locals reportedly invested in the fund company, and Phuge provided high-interest loans to some.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 9″
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is Dnyaneshwar Phuge. Little is known about his mother and siblings.
wife and children
His wife Seema Phuge (also spelled Seema Fuge) is a former city councilor who belongs to the Nationalist Congress party. In 2012, she contested and won the civic elections from Bhosari-Gaothan district (35-A constituency) as an NCP candidate; the seat was reserved for OBC candidates. In 2013, she was fired from the PCMC for submitting a false caste certificate. They have a son, Shubham Phuge.
Datta Phuge and wife Seema Phuge
Datta Phuge and his son Shubham Phuge
Religion/Religious Views
He believes in Hinduism.
gold shirt
In 2013, Phuge gained international attention when she made a 22-carat solid gold shirt. The price of the shirt was estimated to be around Rs 127 crore, based on the gold price at the time. It had six sparkling Swarovski crystal buttons and was paired with a gorgeous gold belt, gold rings, gold chains, bracelets and an ‘Om’ pendant. The total value of the outfit was around Rs 7 crore. His shirt was considered the most expensive shirt in the world at the time, weighing approximately 3.5 kilograms of pure gold. It is crafted by the famous Ranka Jewelers in Pune. This gold shirt is decorated with more than 14,000 gold flowers and more than 100,000 sequins, intricately fastened to a luxurious velvet base. It is reported to be as easy and comfortable to wear as any regular clothing. Guinness World Records records it as the most expensive shirt priced at Rs. 66,15,481 (USD 120,2019) filed on February 6, 2013. 
die
On her birthday, July 14, 2016, Datta Phuge was beaten to death by some unknown persons at around 11:30 pm. Officials found his mutilated head and body at Bharatmata Nagar in Dighi in Pimpri-Chinchwad town. The killer reportedly dragged Pugh out, attacked him with a scythe, then smashed him to death with a boulder before fleeing the scene. Datta Phuge’s son Shubham and his friend Rohan Panchal witnessed the gruesome murder while delivering biryani to what he thought was a party case. In his testimony, Shubham claimed that a friend of his father named Atul Mohit lured Datta by saying they were hosting a birthday party for him. Around 10pm, Mohite picked up Datta Phuge from home to attend a party. Before leaving, Mohit instructed Shubham to pack a portion of biryani and proceed to the alleged party venue in Dighi. When Shubham reached the spot, he saw about a dozen people surrounding Datta Phuge’s car and attacking him with sharp weapons and stones. Shubham also claimed that he recognized most of the attackers as they were acquaintances of his father. Shubham lodged a complaint with Dighi police station, following which the police filed charges against a total of nine suspects, including Amol alias Balli Kailas Pathare (24), Shailesh Suryakant Walke (26), Vishal Parkhe (32), Nivrutti alias Bal Kisan Walke (45), Atul Amrut Mohite (25), Shaukat Attar (24), Sushant alias Babu Pawar (20) and Tushar Jadhav (20) and Prem alias Kakka Dholpuriya (23). One of them was Pugh’s nephew. Mahesh Suryawanshi, another eyewitness, told the police that only the main accused Atul Mohite and co-accused Shaukat Attar, Sushant alias Babu Pawar and Tushar Jadhav were seen attacking Phuge. In 2018, Prem alias Pramod Santaram Dholpuriya and Shailesh Suryakant Walke were granted bail in the murder case. Police said Pugh ran Vakratunda Chit Funds in Bhosali district. Many people from Bhosali, Vishranwadi and other areas of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad entrusted their funds to his ventures. He also issued loans at exorbitant interest rates. In stating the motive behind the murder, police said Pugh may have had financial disputes with several investors after he allegedly failed to return investments. Later, investigators reported that Datta Phuge was killed by his son’s friends to recover Rs. He owed them Rs 1.5 lakh. During the course of the investigation, police discovered that Pugh’s famous gold shirt was mysteriously missing. While the family claimed that the manufacturer of the shirt, Lanka Jewelers, had custody of the shirt, Lanka Jewelers denied this.
Facts/Trivia
- He often flaunts gold bracelets, rings and necklaces. He said in an interview,
Some people ask me why I wear so much gold, but it’s my dream. People have different wishes. Some elite people want to own an Audi or a Mercedes and have big cars. I chose gold. “
- In July 2021, Datta Phuge’s son Shubham Phuge and his associate Prathamesh Waykar were arrested by Bhosari police for hacking to death their 27-year-old friend Aman Dangle. Police reports said the murder was the result of an argument between friends while drinking on a terrace in Bosaripuag. According to reports, after a heated argument, Aman Dangle slapped Pugh, after which Pugh and Wekar took Dangle to Bhosarigaon and brutally beat him with sharp weapons. attacked him.
- His wife Seema also has a soft spot for gold. Datta Phuge said in an interview,
She has 500 kilograms of gold and I bought her a necklace and a bag.”
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education