VISAKHAPATNAM: A pall of gloom descended Thursday on the residence of Grandhi Manoj Kumar, the jeweller who has killed for gain by a cabbie he engaged in Bangalore and two of his accomplices.Missing since February 6, Grandhi, chairman of Vaibhav Empire Private Limited (VEPL), was found garrotted to death near Hassan on Thursday morning.
The 40 year old jewellery merchant is a family friend and distant relative of Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah. He was a native of Eluru in West Godavari who migrated to Visakhapatnam 15 years ago and emerged as the owner of premier jewellery store in the port city.
The death of Grandhi left his family, business partners and employees of VEPL were left in a state of shock as news of the murder broke Thursday morning. He is survived by his wife G Mallika and three daughters. They rushed to Bangalore after he was reported missing on Tuesday. "I cannot believe that our boss is no more," said Sridevi, a sales promoter of Vaibhav Jewellers.
Grandhi built the V Square mall at Dwarkanagar in Vizag in partnership with friend and cloth merchant Kankatala Mallik a few years ago.
He had already set up Vaibhav Jewellers at Main Bazaar in Eluru and was gearing up to start a jewellery shop in Vijayawada.
Relatives said he did have any differences with others. Several businessmen who had good relations with Grandhi said he was an enterprising man and had plans to open jewellery stores at Rajahmundry and a few other places in the state.
K Vijaya Kumar, president of the Vizag Chamber of Commerce and Industry said a bandh will be observed on Friday condemning the killing. Some jewellers shut shop on Thursday itself.
"Manoj was a good friend to most of the jewellers in Vizag. His sudden demise is a shock to us all," said Malabar Gold store director Shirah P T.
Police sources said Grandhi's body is expected to arrive in Vizag on Friday morning.