India, Dec. 4 -- In a bizarre turn, a high-profile Haryana auction for what was touted earlier this week as "India's most expensive vehicle registration number" - valued at Rs.1.17 crore - has collapsed after the highest bidder failed to pay the full amount. The state government has now ordered an inquiry into both the failed transaction and the bidder.

Calling the episode a "serious misuse of the auction system", Haryana transport minister Anil Vij said on Wednesday that the government had initiated a probe into the man who backed out after offering Rs.1.17 crore for the so-called VIP registration number "HR 88 B 8888".

With the bidder failing to honour the payment deadline, his security deposit of Rs.11,000 has been forfeited.

Vij sa...