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Vijay Mallya wins bid

Buys Gandhiji’s memorabilia for $1.8 million ‘for the country’

— Photo: AFP

UNDER THE HAMMER: Mahatma Gandhi memorabilia on display at the auction in New York on Thursday.

New York: Hours after high drama and frenzied bidding, Mahatma Gandhi’s personal belongings were bought on Thursday for $1.8 million (Rs. 9.3 crore) by industrialist Vijay Mallya, who said he “bid for the country” at the auction after last-ditch attempts by India to stall the sale fell through.

Just before the auction, owner of the items, James Otis, said he would withdraw them but the auction house did not agree. It argued that it could have a big liability if it allowed the items to be taken off as more than 30 bidders had already registered for them and some had even sent written bids.

As soon as the auctioneer announced ‘sold,’ a large number of Indian-Americans who had come to witness the auction or to bid burst into applause. The community leaders expressed relief that the promise of keeping Gandhiji’s iconic items, including his glasses, sandals, pocket watch, plate and a bowl, in India had been fulfilled. But the sale would take two weeks to finalise and the items would be kept with the auctioneer to resolve any claims. Tony Bedi, who bid for Mr. Mallya, said the memorabilia would now return to India.

The U.S. Justice Department, whose intervention was sought by the Indian government to implement the injunction issued by the Delhi High Court against the auction, had earlier sent a notice to Antiquorum Auctioneers.

The notice said the items should not be transferred to the buyer but kept in an escrow account until it took a view on the Indian request. — PTI

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