Liquor baron Vijay Mallya has said he plans to set up a museum dedicated to the erstwhile ruler of Mysore Tipu Sultan.
The Rajya Sabha member and chairman of the United Breweries Group of India stressed that this will be possible only if the Centre facilitated him to import some of the rare treasures he bought at an auction in London.
"Since I was harassed the last time while importing Tipu's sword, I want everything clarified by the government before I take these treasures back to India," Mallya said on Friday before leaving for US.
At the Sotheby's auction on Wednesday, Mallya spent nearly £ 1 million to buy back Tipu Sultan's looted treasures.
"I am pleased that I was able to pick and choose from a wide cross-section of the items. They are all prized possessions and I can't single out any one as a highlight," he said.
The rare articles include a silver-mounted flintlock-sporting gun from the personal armoury of the 'Tiger of Mysore', which cost £ 120,000.
Other major items include a rare three-pounder bronze cannon on its presentation field carriage (£ 72,000) and a three-pounder bronze cannon (£ 66,000) from Tipu's palace.
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