₹1.17 Crore Bid for VIP Number Ends in Shock as Haryana Man Fails to Pay

Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij announced on Wednesday that a Hisar resident identified as Sudhir Kumar, director of Romulus Solutions Private Limited, faces a thorough probe into his financial capacity after winning the highest bid of ₹1.17 crore for the VIP vehicle registration number HR 88 B 8888 but failing to pay the amount by the deadline. The online auction, conducted via the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' portal in the Badhra subdivision of Charkhi Dadri district, attracted 45 participants and closed last Wednesday, with the base price starting at ₹50,000 before surging to the record figure.

Kumar had deposited the required ₹10,000 security and ₹1,000 registration fee to participate, but his forfeiture of the security amount after missing the payment deadline has prompted Vij to label such actions as "casual" and irresponsible. Speaking to reporters in Ambala, Vij emphasised that fancy and VIP numbers are allotted exclusively through auctions to generate state revenue and curb black-market dealings, adding that high bids often reflect prestige but must be backed by genuine intent. He has directed officials to scrutinise Kumar's income, property holdings, and overall economic standing, with a formal request being forwarded to the Income Tax Department for a deeper investigation to prevent future frivolous bidding.

The coveted HR 88 B 8888 plate—where 'HR' denotes Haryana, '88' the district code, 'B' the vehicle series, and '8888' the repeating lucky sequence symbolising prosperity—had generated nationwide buzz as India's most expensive vehicle number ever auctioned. Such auctions, held weekly on Fridays through Wednesdays via fancy.parivahan.gov.in, have become a revenue booster for the state, with similar premium plates like HR 88 B 9999 fetching over ₹50 lakh in past rounds. Vij's intervention aims to ensure participants treat the process seriously, not as a "hobby".

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Following the forfeiture, the number will be re-auctioned starting Thursday with the same ₹50,000 base price, potentially drawing even more interest given its viral fame. This incident highlights the growing trend of extravagant bids for vanity plates in India, where cultural affinity for auspicious numbers like 8 drives premiums, but also underscores the need for robust verification to protect public resources and auction integrity.

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