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Datta Phuge Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth14 July 1968

Age48 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceMaharashtra

ProfessionBusinessman, Money-Lender

NationalityIndia

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSeema Phuge

FamilySon - Shubham Phuge; Father - Dnyaneshwar Phuge

Datta Phuge Biography

Datta Dnyaneshwar Phuge was an Indian businessman and money-lender from Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra, best known for commissioning a 22-carat gold shirt.

Early life and background

Datta Dnyaneshwar Phuge was born on 14 July 1968 in Maharashtra and grew up in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area. He attended Pune University and began his working life in the jewellery trade, developing an early and lasting enthusiasm for gold. Phuge said that wearing gold had been a long-standing personal preference dating back to his college days.

Career

Phuge initially ran a jewellery shop before moving into finance. Along with his wife he established Vakratunda Chit Fund Pvt Ltd in 2009, operating in the Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune region. The business combined chit-fund activity with money-lending, and became a prominent local enterprise in Bhosari and neighbouring neighbourhoods.

Phuge celebrated business success by buying gold jewellery and accessories for himself and his wife, sometimes in substantial quantities. He became widely known after commissioning an elaborate 22-carat gold shirt in 2013 that drew national and international attention. The shirt was reported to weigh roughly 3.5 kilograms of gold, featured Swarovski crystal buttons and was decorated with thousands of gold elements over a velvet backing. At the time it was widely described as one of the most expensive shirts in the world.

Public profile

The gold shirt and Phuge’s lavish display of jewellery brought him fame beyond his local community. His wife, Seema Phuge, was active in local politics as a member of the Nationalist Congress Party and won a municipal seat in 2012 representing Bhosari-Gaothan (Ward 35-A). Seema later faced disciplinary action related to the authenticity of a caste certificate.

Alongside the public attention came scrutiny of his business operations. Vakratunda Chit Fund and the money-lending activities around it were associated in local reporting with disputes and allegations from investors and borrowers. Reports during later investigations suggested that financial disagreements involving the business might have been a factor in conflict with several individuals.

Death and aftermath

Datta Phuge was killed on 14 July 2016 in Bharat Mata Nagar, Dighi, within the Pimpri-Chinchwad township. He was 48 years old. Accounts state he was attacked after being lured to a location on the night of his birthday. His son Shubham and a friend were present at the scene and reported details to police. Authorities identified multiple suspects and charged several people in connection with the killing; some witnesses and investigative reports pointed to disputes linked to money-lending and repayment issues. Investigators also reported that Phuge’s famous gold shirt could not be located during the inquiry, with conflicting claims about its whereabouts.

Latest updates

Subsequent developments involving members of Phuge’s family were reported in later years. In July 2021, his son Shubham was arrested in connection with the alleged killing of an associate during an incident in Bhosari. Law enforcement accounts described a confrontation among acquaintances that ended in violence and led to the arrest of Shubham and another individual.

Legacy

Datta Phuge remains a remembered figure in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad for the extremes of his public persona: a businessman who rose from modest beginnings into the jewellery and finance world, and a man whose dramatic display of gold became symbolic of his image. His life story as recorded in public reports includes entrepreneurship, controversy, and a violent death that prompted significant local police investigations.
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Recent Work

Vakratunda Chit Fund Pvt Ltd

Co-founded and operated a chit-fund and money-lending business in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune; business activity drew public attention and local disputes.

2009
22-carat gold shirt

Commissioned an elaborate gold shirt in 2013 that was widely reported as one of the world’s most expensive shirts and brought international attention.

2013
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Career Highlights

  1. Started in the jewellery trade and later co-founded Vakratunda Chit Fund Pvt Ltd (2009)
  2. Gained international attention in 2013 for commissioning a 22-carat gold shirt
  3. Was a well-known local money-lender in the Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune area
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Datta Phuge born?

14 July 1968

What is Datta Phuge known for?

Businessman, Money-Lender

What is Datta Phuge’s marital status?

Married

Who is Datta Phuge married to?

Seema Phuge