HONG KONG (AP) — On Wednesday, Sotheby's stopped selling some jewels.

The auction house said the jewels for sale were found in northern India in 1898. They were buried with things connected to the historical Buddha. People think the jewels are from about 240 to 200 BC.

India's Ministry of Culture used Facebook to say they told Sotheby's in Hong Kong to stop selling something. They said the sale broke Indian laws and international rules.

In a letter to Sotheby's Hong Kong on Monday, which they put on Facebook, they said the sale included important Buddhist items. They said these items are a very important part of the religious and cultural history of India and all Buddhist people. They asked for the items to be sent back to the Indian government. They also asked Sotheby's and Chris Peppé to say sorry in public.

Peppé is the great-grandson of William Peppé. William Peppé was from Britain, and he found the relics.

The Indian government sent a letter. It said that if the auction house did not follow the rules, they would take legal action. They would also tell people that the auction house helped sell religious items that were taken unfairly.

Sotheby's said on Wednesday that they would hold the auction later because the Indian government had some concerns, and the people selling the items agreed.

This will let the parties talk, and we will share any news when it is right.

Some pages on the Sotheby's website for the sale were not available on Wednesday.

The Indian Culture Ministry said on Facebook on Wednesday that they were happy because the sale was stopped after they helped.