Datta Phuge took the interwebs by storm three years ago when we introduced the $250,000 22-karat-gold-shirt-wearing 32-year-old Indian who proclaimed "I know I am not the best looking man but surely no woman could fail to be dazzled by this shirt?" showing the world that gold is much more than a barbarous relic. Sadly, as The BBC reports, "the gold man" was murdered overnight - found stoned-and-sickled to death near his home in Dighi, India.
As ABP Live reports, millionaire money-lender, Datta D. Phuge, famous as 'Pimpri Goldman' was found clobbered to death near Dighi here on early Friday morning, police said.
The high-profile businessman's vehicle was accosted by some unknown persons on the outskirts of the city late on Thursday night.
They reportedly dragged him out, attacked him with a sickle and then pounded him to death with huge stones before fleeing from the spot.
Phuge usually moved around with armed private bodyguards, but it is not clear where they were at the time of the incident.
Officials later came across a much-mangled head and body of the 35-year old 'gold man', whose wife is Seema is an ex-municipal corporator.
The motive behind the killing is not known, but police preliminary suspect it may be linked to some business rivalries and are investigating all angles.
The Pune Police have launched a manhunt to nab the assailants, roadblocks erected at all exit points and within the city limits as well as district boundaries.
The police have recovered the sickle used in the crime and have sent Phuge's body for an autopsy.
Besides his primary business of lending money, he ran the Vakratund Chit Fund Pvt. Ltd. along with his wife and there were complaints of financial misappropriation against him in recent times.
