Someone just bought Vijay Mallya's luxury jet

August 24, 2016 21:09

Days after the service tax department held an auction to sell embattled businessman Vijay Mallya's personal jet, little-known SGI Commex today said it emerged as the 'successful bidder' at a price of Rs 27.39 crore ($4.1 million), which is nearly one-sixth of the reserve price.

SGI Commex chairman G S Srivastava, an art connoisseur, said the aircraft, an Airbus A319-133 with registration of CJ VT-VJM, will be converted into an art pilgrimage venture under the label of 'Beyond the Obvious' and that it will not be used as a private carrier.

Srivastava said he has helped corporatise and uplift the art market with his landmark deal of the M F Hussain work 'Our Planet Called Earth Series'. He plans to utilise the aircraft to promote exotic art work ingrained in various temples and religious places across the country through religious tourism, particularly among foreigners.

The latest auction, held as part of the efforts of the department to recover over Rs 800 crore dues, took place on August 18 after an earlier auction failed on June 30.

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