Ahmedabad-based businessman Mihir Desai has a strange passion for vehicles. He owns a collection of vehicles including an Audi Q5 and a Fortuner Sigma 4 Automatic. He has spent Rs 21.82 lakh and Rs 22.08 lakh to get the numbers 0007 and 0009, made famous by James Bond.
Why is this number popular?
Secret Service agents answer to the code number 007, while 009 is the code number of another intelligence operative in the Double-O department. Desai, who spent around Rs. 1 crore to buy the car, paid around Rs. 44 lakh to get the number of his choice.
The auction of the GJ-01-WM series was hotter than a pavbhaji pan, with around 630 contestants. The Ahmedabad RTO has earned a total of Rs. 1.33 crore from this.
These numbers are my identity – Mihir Desai
“When I first bought my car, I got the numbers 0007 and 0009. Soon, these numbers became synonymous with my identity. People who know me instantly recognize my vehicles because of these distinctive digits. So, when I needed new vehicles, I decided to go with the same numbers. I made sure to inform the showroom staff of my choice to ensure that I got these numbers,” said Desai, who lives in the Sindhu Bhawan area.
I knew the other bidder personally and requested him to withdraw, but he was stubborn. It then became a matter of prestige,” said Mihir Desai.
Interestingly, in 2020, an Ahmedabadi, who runs a transport business, had bid Rs. 34 lakh for GJ-01-WA-0007. However, RTO officials said the person failed to make the full payment on time, due to which the bid was withdrawn.
Amedabad Road Transport Officer Ruturaj Desai, confirming the bid, said, “We received Rs. 21.80 lakh from Mihir Desai and Rs. Two bids of Rs 22.08 lakh were received.” When asked about the collection from the GJ01WM series, he acknowledged it as one of the highest revenue generating series for the RTO.
In total, nine bids for the numbers crossed Rs 1 lakh, with two bids reaching Rs 99,000.
The third highest bid was for the number 0001, which received Rs 9.43 lakh, followed by the demand for the number 7777, which ended with a final bid of Rs 5.25 lakh.
