Surat: There was a scramble to claim Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pinstripe monogrammed suit with bids going higher on the third and final day of the auction on Friday as two Surat-based businessmen made an offering of Rs 1.81 crore.
Five fresh bids were received on Friday during the auction, with businessmen Lavji Badshah and Jayanti Aklara making the highest offer of Rs 1.81 crore to purchase the controversial suit that Modi wore during US President Barack Obama's visit to India in January.
Badshah and Aklara had earlier offered Rs 1.71 crore, but increased their bid amount to Rs 1.81 crore after another businessman Hitesh Patel offered Rs 1.75 crore.
"We have great respect for Saheb (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and as this fund will be utilised for Clean Ganga Mission, we preferred to make this bid," said Aklara, who came to submit a written bid.
The first fresh bid on Friday morning of Rs 1.61 crore was made by Surat-based diamond trader Hitesh Patel. However, when others came forward, he raised his bid offering to 1.75 crore.
"I made the bid as the fund will go to 'Clean Ganga' campaign. That is the reason why I made the bid twice to get the Modi suit," he said. Besides, trader Rajesh Jain made an offering of Rs 1.65 crore.
"I have very high feelings for the Modi suit as I consider it a national asset," Jain said after his bid.
On the second day of auction yesterday, the highest bid was from Surat-based diamond trader Mukesh Patel who offered Rs 1.48 crore for the suit. The bidding for the suit had started with Rs 11 lakh on the first day.
The suit, that kicked up a political storm, is being auctioned along with 455 items that Modi had received as gifts during his nearly nine-month long tenure, to generate funds for the Prime Minister's ambitious 'Clean Ganga Mission'.
The auction at the Science Convention Centre will close at 5 PM today after which the articles will be handed over to the highest bidder.
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