A duplicate of the Spanish painter's masterpiece was sold for Rs 2 lakh by a man, then in his 70s, to a developer, who then sold it to the real estate agent from whom it was recovered last month; cops suspect he may be no more

The curious case of a fake Goya painting has put cops on the tail of an unidentified 90-year-old man, who allegedly sold it 15 years ago for a sum of Rs 2 lakh.

The man, then in his 70s, had sold the painting to a developer, who then resold it to a real estate agent, from whom it was recovered last month ('Have cops recovered a 'stolen' Goya masterpiece?' February 14, MiD DAY).

After uncertainty about the authenticity of the painting, it had been revealed to be a counterfeit of Goya's 'Saturn Devouring His Son', a 19th century masterpiece inspired by Classical mythology.

The transaction between the developer and the seller had taken place about 15 years ago, the investigation has revealed.

Senior Police Inspector Dilip Rupawte of the Oshiwara police station confirmed that the developer had purchased the painting from a Lucknow-based man 15 years ago, who was then in his mid 70s.

Based on this lead, cops have now launched a manhunt for the nonagenarian. Sources said that cops haven't ruled out the possibility that the man has passed away already.

The developer has told cops that the old man had cheated him, as he had been told that the painting was an original Goya, when he bought it 15 years ago.

The painting was recovered last month from 32-year-old real estate agent Majid Khan, when cops were searching his premises for unregistered weapons.

While the arms recovered were found to be registered, the officials discovered a painting that appeared to be the iconic Goya masterpiece.

The painting has been sent for archeological analysis for more leads. "We are waiting for the reports and only after that we will track down the original buyer and seller of the painting," said Rupwate.