Record VIP number bid under lens; Transport Minister orders inquiry

Days after a Haryana resident created a sensation by placing a staggering bid of Rs 1.17 crore for a vehicle registration number, Transport Minister Anil Vij today directed the Transport Department to have the bidder’s financial background investigated through the Income Tax Department.

The record bid for registration number HR 88 B 8888 was placed during an online auction in Badhra subdivision of Charkhi Dadri, where 45 participants had competed. The highest bidder, Sudhir Kumar, a resident of Hisar, failed to deposit the amount within the specified deadline, leading to the forfeiture of his security deposit. The number will now be re-auctioned.

Taking a stern view, Vij said bidding in such auctions cannot be treated lightly. “Participation in an auction is not a casual activity, it is a responsibility,” he said, adding that appropriate action will be taken.

The minister pointed out that fancy and VIP vehicle numbers in Haryana are allotted exclusively through auctions. While people often place unusually high bids as a matter of prestige, these auctions also generate significant revenue for the state. The recent incident, however, suggested that some bidders were treating the process in a frivolous manner.

“I have issued strict instructions to Transport Department officials to check the bidder’s actual income and property. It must be confirmed whether the person really has the financial capacity to bid Rs 1.17 crore. A written request is being sent to the Income Tax Department for a thorough investigation so that no one in the future participates in auctions on false financial claims or without sufficient economic ability,” Vij said.

Talking to ‘The Tribune’, the minister said, “We all were surprised when we came to know that the number has been auctioned for Rs 1.17 crore. It was a big amount. But the person who had placed the bid hasn’t submitted the amount, so I have asked my department to get the matter investigated and check if the person even had such a financial worth. The Income Tax Department will check and appropriate action will be taken. We will further chalk out strategy to ensure that no such incident is repeated in the future.”