‘Not a pastime’: Haryana man backs out from Rs 1.12cr bid for 'HR88B-8888' VIP-number; govt orders probe into his financial capacity

AMBALA: Haryana transport minister Anil Vij has ordered a detailed investigation into the assets and income of a man who placed the highest bid of nearly ₹1.12 crore for the VIP registration number HR88B-8888 but later backed out, forfeiting his security deposit.The minister said the unusual bid raises serious questions about the bidder's financial capacity and intentions.Speaking to the media, Vij explained that the state allots fancy and VVIP vehicle numbers through an online auction system, which not only enhances a buyer's prestige but also contributes significantly to govt revenue. In the recent auction, a Hisar-based bidder offered over ₹1.1 crore for HR88B-8888 — a record in the country — and made headlines but failed to deposit the money by deadline.Terming the incident a matter of concern, Vij said the trend of placing excessively high bids without the actual intent or capacity to pay must be curbed. "Placing a bid in the auction is not a pastime — it is a responsibility. I have directed transport officials to thoroughly verify the individual's income and assets. We must determine whether he truly had the financial capacity to place such a high bid," he said.Vij said the transport department will write to income tax department, seeking a comprehensive financial inquiry into the bidder to ensure that people do not misuse the auction system.The minister emphasised that such actions disrupt the integrity of the auction process and could potentially affect govt revenue, hence strict measures are necessary to prevent recurrence. "We want to ensure transparency and accountability. If someone bids ₹1.17 crore, we must verify whether they genuinely have the means to honour that bid," he said.