Haryana govt orders probe after bidder fails to pay for India’s costliest number plate

Gurugram: The Haryana government has initiated an inquiry into Sudhir Kumar's financial background, the man who secured India’s most expensive vehicle registration number but failed to pay for it. The development follows his successful bid of Rs 1.17 crore for the number plate HR88B8888, a record-setting amount that generated nationwide attention.

Sudhir Kumar, who is Director at Romulus Solutions Private Limited, won the auction for the sought-after VIP registration number during the state’s online bidding process. However, he did not deposit the required payment by the deadline. His security amount of Rs 11,000 was automatically forfeited after the lapse.

Transport Minister Anil Vij said the department had no choice but to verify the bidder’s financial capacity after he failed to honour the commitment. Speaking to reporters, Vij said, "We offer VIP number plates via auction. Several people bid for the number '8888'. However, after winning the auction by placing the highest bid, the bidder (Sudhir Kumar) did not pay the amount. Instead, he let his security deposit of Rs 11,000 to be forfeited."

Vij added that the government would approach the Income Tax Department for assistance. The intention is to ensure bidders do not inflate prices beyond their financial means, which disrupts the auction system and discourages serious participants. He stated that he had asked officials to verify whether Kumar even possessed a net worth matching the bid amount. Calling for greater responsibility from participants, Vij remarked, "Bidding in auctions is not a hobby, it's a responsibility."

The prized number plate will now return to auction, opening another round of bidding for interested buyers.

The number HR88B8888 first made headlines on November 26 when it became the most expensive registration number ever sold in India. Forty five applicants had entered the fray, pushing the price far beyond the base amount of Rs 50,000. The winning bidder was required to clear the payment by December 1, but the amount remained unpaid.

On Sunday, Sudhir Kumar claimed he had attempted to transfer the money twice on Saturday but could not complete the payment due to what he described as a technical problem. He also said that domestic objections had complicated matters. "Discussions are currently underway with the family. Elderlies in the family that it is not a wise decision to spend such a large amount on a number plate, while I am in favour of it. We will make a final decision by Monday."

The Haryana government conducts weekly online auctions for VIP or fancy vehicle numbers. Applicants register between Friday evening and Monday morning, and bidding continues until Wednesday. The entire process is carried out digitally on the designated portal.

The attraction of HR88B8888 lies in its visual pattern. HR denotes Haryana, 88 refers to the Regional Transport Office, B represents the series within that RTO and the sequence 8888 forms a distinctive set of repeated digits. The combination is popular among buyers who believe certain numerical patterns bring luck or prestige.