Rs 1.25 cr bid for Modi's controversial bandhgala suit

Surat, Feb 19: The auction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial pinstripe monogrammed suit that he wore during US President Barack Obama's visit to India last month today received a fresh bid of Rs 1.25 crore from a textile trader here.

Surat-based Rajesh Maheshwari, who has established a Global Modi Fan Club, made the offer of Rs 1.25 crore, Rs four lakh more than yesterday's highest bid which ended at Rs 1.21 crore.

Yesterday, another textile businessmen Rajesh Juneja had given a written bid offering Rs 1.21 crore for Modi's navy blue suit, which is the star attraction at the three-day auction.

Four other bids for the suit were received lower than Rs 1.21 crore. 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 tomorrow after which the articles will be handed over to the highest bidder.

Surat Municipal Commissioner Milind Toravane said, "The gift items belonging to Prime Minister Modi are a national treasure and the money generated from the auction will be utilised for the 'Clean Ganga Mission'."

No base price has been fixed for any of the items that will go under the hammer, Toravane said.

PTI