HR88B-8888 VIP plate: Haryana man calls Rs 1.17 cr bid ‘not worth it’, failed to pay amid family pressure

The number plate HR88B8888 gained national attention for becoming the most expensive car registration number in India. (Photo: X/@IndianTechGuide)

Haryana-based IT executive Sudhir Kumar, who made headlines on November 26 for bidding over Rs 1.1 crore for the VIP vehicle number plate HR88B-8888, has now said the number isn’t worth that much. He also confirmed that he will not participate in such high-value online auctions again, The Times of India reported.

Sudhir, known for his fondness for VIP numbers, already owns four cars with 0777 endings. He revealed that an astrologer had advised him that the number 8888 would bring even more luck than his current collection.

“Intense bidding pushed me to Rs 1.17 crore. The uproar over it is unnecessary. I will now buy numbers privately,” he said. He also welcomed any investigation into his assets, responding to Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij’s comments.

Minister orders investigation

Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij has ordered a detailed probe into Sudhir Kumar’s income and assets. Sudhir is the Director of Romulus Solutions Private Limited, a transportation service company.

Speaking to the media, Vij said, “We offer VIP number plates via online auctions. Several people bid for the number ‘8888’. However, after winning the auction with the highest bid, the bidder, Sudhir Kumar, did not pay the amount and allowed his security deposit of Rs 11,000 to be forfeited.” The number will be reauctioned now.

Vij has also asked his department to verify whether Kumar has the net worth to afford the Rs 1.17 crore bidding amount.

HR88B8888 – India’s costliest registration number

The number plate HR88B8888 gained national attention for becoming the most expensive car registration number in India. The auction received 45 applications with a base price of Rs 50,000, but the bidding quickly escalated to Rs 1.17 crore.

Sudhir explained why he failed to pay the amount. “Due to family pressure and a hectic schedule, I was unable to make the payment of Rs 1.17 crore. I had already purchased and paid for another number, 0777, and didn’t realise HR88B8888 had been allotted to me until I started receiving calls from the media,” he was quoted by ETV Bharat as saying.

How Haryana auctions VIP number plates

Haryana conducts online auctions for VIP or fancy number plates every week. Bidders can submit their applications from Friday 5 pm to Monday 9 am, after which bidding continues until results are announced at Wednesday 5 pm. The entire process is online at fancy.parivahan.gov.in.

The number HR88B8888 is special because of its unique combination. HR is the state code, indicating the vehicle is registered in Haryana. 88 represents the specific Regional Transport Office (RTO) or district within Haryana where the vehicle is registered. B is used to indicate vehicle series code within the specific RTO. 8888 is the unique, four-digit registration number assigned to the vehicle.

The plate is visually striking because the letter B, in uppercase, resembles the number eight, giving the appearance of a long string of eights.