The number plate that grabbed national attention for becoming India’s costliest registration number ‘HR88B8888’ is now heading for a reauction. The bidder who won it for Rs 1.17 crore has failed to deposit the amount within the deadline, forcing authorities to restart the process.
Bidder Could Not Make Payment in Time
The special number was secured last week by Sudhir Kumar, Director at Romulus Solutions Private Limited, after two days of intense online bidding. He emerged as the highest bidder at Rs 1.17 crore, far above the base price of ₹50,000.
The deadline to pay the full amount ended on December 1 at 12 pm, but Kumar did not deposit the money. On Sunday, he said he tried transferring the amount twice but faced a “technical glitch.” He also admitted that his family was not in favour of spending such a high amount on a number plate.
According to him, the decision had become difficult because the family’s seniors believed the money should not be wasted, while he personally wanted the number. He said discussions were still going on, but the deadline ended before he could take a final call.
The Number Plate That Went Viral
Last week, ‘HR88B8888’ became a talking point nationwide. The number is visually appealing, and many believe such combinations bring luck or status.
The sequence stands out because:
- HR – Haryana state code
- 88 – RTO or district code
- B – Series code (looks like the digit 8 when written in uppercase)
- 8888 – A highly sought-after four-digit number
Put together, the plate appears like a series of eights, making it extremely attractive to buyers who consider 8 a symbol of prosperity.
How The Auction System Works
Haryana conducts online auctions for fancy numbers every week. Applications open on Friday at 5 pm and close on Monday at 9 am. Bidding continues until Wednesday 5 pm, and everything happens on the fancy.parivahan.gov.in portal.
For this week’s auction, ‘HR88B8888’ received 45 applications, the highest for any number on the list. The bidding amount kept rising until it settled at Rs 1.17 crore, making it a record-breaking figure.
What Happens Next?
Since the payment was not made in time, authorities will now reauction the number. Fresh dates are expected soon, and the bidding will start from the base price once again.
It remains to be seen whether someone else is willing to match or surpass the previous bid, or if the record-breaking excitement calms down this time.
