Beauty queen has crowning worry

Twenty-one-year-old Srishti Rana (in photo), who became the fourth Indian to win Miss Asia Pacific title, ran into trouble with the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Tuesday. This is because, as per the law, the crown she won at the pageant is not exempted from custom duties.

Milind Lanjewar, additional commissioner of customs (AIU) said that since a crown is not considered as luggage under the law, duty has to be paid on it by the passenger carrying it.

Alternatively, if the crown is to be kept in India, temporarily, and later exported back to a foreign country, then the passenger has to sign a bond confirming the same.

The AIU has sent the crown to experts to ascertain its valuation, so that the apt duties could be levied on it.

Rana is the second consecutive winner of the title, which was won by Himangini Singh last year.

The pageant was held in South Korea on October 30.

In November last year, AIU held the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup replica trophy after it arrived at CSIA. Similarly, in April 2011, the ICC officials carrying Men’s World Cup trophy were stopped at CSIA from carrying the trophy till they paid the duty.