It is very frustrating, but I still cannot find anything about the sale of the emerald necklace. Probably it was a private sale either through a jeweller or a private transaction between the Maharaja and the Earl.
The Royal Collection has a copy of the photo of Shivaji Rao Holkar, Maharaja of Indore which it dates as 1903.
See Royal Collection at https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/9/collection/2916581/shivajirao-holkar-maharaja-of-indore-1859-1908
It is not clear from the Royal Collection site if the photograph comes from the same time as the Coronation Durbar of 1903.
The Maharaja does not appear to have worn it to the 1903 Durbar, although it could be hidden up near his neckline.
Detail
What is clear for our purposes is that the necklace was acquired by the Maharaja before 1903.
In the link which Janet gave in her post, http://www.theindianquest.com/blog-details/Harry-Nedou-and-Controversial-Holkar-Jewelry-Heist the Indian newspaper source said that Tukoji Rao Holkar, who was forced to abdicate, stated that it was his personal property and all the evidence on that site seems to validate that. It was not part of the "crown jewels".
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