HONG KONG (AP) — Sotheby's deferred an auction of jewels linked to Buddha's relics on Wednesday, following the Indian government's objection to the sale and its demand for its immediate cessation.

The auction house stated that the valuable stones being sold were found buried together in containers with what are thought to be the physical remains of the historical Buddha. They were discovered in northern India in 1898. The auction house added that they are believed to be from around 240-200 BC.

However, India's Ministry of Culture announced via a Facebook post on Tuesday that it had served a legal notice on Sotheby's Hong Kong, demanding an immediate cessation of the sale and alleging the auction contravened "Indian laws, international norms, and UN conventions."

In a letter sent to Sotheby's Hong Kong on Monday and shared on Facebook, it stated that the auction includes important Buddhist items that are a key part of the religious and cultural history of India and Buddhists around the world. It asked for the items to be returned to the Indian government and for Sotheby's and Chris Peppé to apologize publicly.

Peppé is a great-grandson of the British individual, William Peppé, who was responsible for excavating the relics.

The Indian government stated in the letter that non-compliance would lead to legal proceedings and public campaigns emphasizing the auction house’s involvement “in sustaining colonial injustice and participating in the unethical sale of religious artifacts.”

Sotheby's disclosed the deferral in a declaration on Wednesday, acknowledging the concerns raised by the Indian government and affirming it was undertaken with the consent of the consignors.

"This will facilitate discourse between the concerned parties, and we anticipate sharing any pertinent updates as they become available," it stated.

By Wednesday, certain pages on Sotheby's website pertaining to the auction had become inaccessible.

The Indian Ministry of Culture announced on Facebook on Wednesday its satisfaction that the auction was deferred following its intervention.