Piprahwa gems auction on hold at Sotheby’s after India legal threat

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Sotheby’s has postponed the Hong Kong auction of ancient gem relics linked to the Buddha’s remains after the Indian government threatened to take legal action against the auction house. The Indian Ministry of Culture had warned that failure to halt the sale of the Piprahwa gems would result in legal proceedings in Indian and Hong Kong courts and through international bodies “for violations of cultural heritage laws”. In a statement, Sotheby’s said the auction, due to take place on Wednesday, would be postponed to allow discussion between the sellers, three descendants of William Claxton Peppé, a British colonial landowner who...