It is learnt, that much to the embarrassment of the Defence Ministry, two of the cars were purchased for less than the market price. The armed forces are unhappy with the delay in the auction of the cars, which were presented to the Prime Minister for the Kargil soldiers in June.

After presenting the keys today, Fernandes thanked the bidders and said that the Rs 35 lakh that had been raised, would go to the National Defence Fund.

Fernandes, a known MNC-basher, presented the keys to Steve Heath, president, Coca Cola, and CR Williams, managing director, Rolls Royce, among others amid flashing bulbs in the meeting room of SouthBlock. After all, it was ``all for a good cause,'' as a Ministry spokesman put it.

Interestingly, after the auction, the highest bidders drove off with the cars but today they were invited to South Block for the official handing over of the keys by the Defence Minister.

The Cielo Glx Automatic with the air bag model, according to a Ministry spokesman, is yet to be marketed in India. ``The cars are priced around Rs six lakh and Rolls Royce paid Rs nine lakh for it. Coca Cola paid Rs eight lakh,'' the spokesperson said.

However, the Surgical Manufacturers and Traders Association purchased two Cielos for Rs 5.5 lakh each. ``But their representatives have said that they will re-auction the two cars at a higher price and whatever they get will again be sent to the Fund,'' Fernandes said at the meeting room.

The armed forces for whom the money is actually meant are unhappy with the ``bureaucratic delay'' in the auction and the manner in which the Ministry handled it.