India Steps In To Halt Auction Of Sacred Buddha Relics In Hong Kong, Sends Legal Notice

Days before going under the hammer at Sotheby's Hong Kong, India has stepped in to halt the auction of a portion of the sacred Buddhist relics that were excavated in the northern parts of the country in 1898 and demanded their repatriation.

In a statement on Monday (May 5, 2025), the Ministry of Culture said it has issued a "legal notice to Sotheby's Hong Kong", seeking "immediate cessation of the auction" scheduled for Wednesday (May 7, 2025).

There was no immediate reaction from the auction house.

However, the Ministry of Culture said Sotheby has responded to the legal notice with the "assurance" that "full attention" is being given to the matter.