TOI
New Delhi, Mar 6: Government on Friday took credit for bringing the belongings of Mahatma Gandhi back in the country by saying “it was in constant touch Mahatma Gandhi's glasses and pocket watch are seen before a controversial auction of his memorabilia in New York City.
“The Indian government procured the five personal articles of Mahatma Gandhi at a New York auction through the services of industrialist Vijay Mallya as it could not bid directly because of a stay order of the Delhi High Court,” culture minister Ambika Soni said on Friday.
“Dr Mallya's representative was in constant touch with us. He bought the items in conjunction with the government," Soni said.
Soni said the memorabilia, including the iconic metal-rimmed glasses of the Mahatma, were acquired in "close cooperation' between her department and the external affairs ministry.
She added, “We were working on several options to get the items back. This is a victory for the UPA government.”
Hours after high drama and frenzied bidding, Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings were bought for USD 1.8 million by Vijay Mallya, who said he "bidded for the country" at the auction after last-ditch attempts by India to stall the sale of the memorabilia fell through.
Just before the auction, owner of the items James Otis had agreed to withdraw them from the auction but the auction house did not agree. It argued that it could have a big liability if it allowed the items to be withdrawn from the auction as more than 30 bidders had already registered for them and some have even sent in written bids.
The sale would take two weeks to finalise. The items would be kept with the Auctioneer for two weeks to resolve any claims.
The US Justice Department, whose intervention was sought by the Indian government to implement the injunction issued by the Delhi High Court against auction of Gandhi's belongings, had earlier sent a notice to Antiquorum Auctioneers that items be not transferred to the buyer and kept in escrow account until it takes a view on the Indian request. But it had allowed the auction go on.
Just before Gandhi's items went under hammer, the auctioneer explained the position and said it plans to keep the items for two weeks pending the decision of the Justice Department.
Mallya's move came as a total surprise as his name was never mentioned among those who might bid for the items. The bid on the floor was made by his representative Bedi and it was not until the auction was over that the liquor baron's name surfaced to the surprise of everyone present.