New Delhi - The wealthy buyer of the set of artefacts that once belonged to Mahatma Gandhi was acting on behalf of the government of India, media reports said Friday.

According to the PTI news agency quoting India's Culture Minister Ambika Soni, the Indian independence icon's pocket watch, sandals, a bowl, "thali" (plate) and letters of authenticity were "procured through the services of an Indian, Vijay Mallya."

Soni said the government could not get directly involved due to a stay order by the Delhi High Court.

Mallya, flamboyant chairman of India's biggest liquor business and Kingfisher Airlines, bought the items Thursday for 1.8 million dollars, despite attempts to halt the auction in New York.

The Indian government considers Gandhi's possessions a national treasure and protested the sale while a New Delhi court passed an injunction.

California-based owner James Otis tried to withdraw the items at the last minute, saying he did not mean "to cause this controversy."

The United States has asked the auction house Antiquorum to hold the lot for two weeks pending a resolution on whether it had the right to sell the lot despite the injunction. (dpa)