Chandigarh: Imagine offering Rs 1.17 crore for a car registration number?
That is exactly what a businessman from Haryana has did and is now facing the heat for not paying up.
Officials in Haryana are now probing the assets and income of Sudhir Kumar, the highest bidder for the VIP registration number HR88B8888, after a prod from the government.
The number was auctioned recently and the amount offered for it made it the most expensive one in the country.
Haryana transport minister Anil Vij has now instructed the state transport department to verify whether Kumar, director of Romulus Solutions Private Limited, has the financial means to place such a bid. Bidders need to act responsibly and not raise bid amounts without the capacity to pay, he said.
VIP number plate auctions attract several participants and in this case, Kumar placed the highest bid, the minister told the media. Instead of completing the payment, Kumar allowed the security deposit of Rs 11,000 to be forfeited. Vij said he would request the income tax department to look into the bidder’s finances to prevent similar attempts that artificially inflate auction prices.
“The act of bidding is a responsibility, not a pastime,” Vij said.
The number plate will now be offered again in a fresh auction.
HR88B8888 became the most expensive vehicle registration number in the country on November 26. The plate had a base price of Rs 50,000 and drew 45 applicants. The winner was required to pay the full amount by December 1, but the deadline passed without payment.
Kumar later claimed he made two attempts to deposit the amount but faced technical issues. He also said his family was unsure about spending such a large sum on a fancy number. Discussions were ongoing and he planned to give a final response by Monday.
Haryana conducts weekly online auctions for VIP number plates on the official fancy.parivahan.gov.in portal. Applications open every Friday evening and remain active until Monday morning. Final results are announced on Wednesday.
HR88B8888 stands out because of its visual pattern. With ‘B’ resembling the digit ‘8’ in uppercase, the combination appears as a series of repeated eights, increasing its appeal among buyers seeking premium or symbolic numbers.
