On Thursday, Indian police filed a case against Miss Universe for conducting an unauthorised footwear fashion shoot at the Taj Mahal which was slammed as an "insult" by the monument's caretaker.
Twenty-one-year-old American Olivia Culpo, wearing a long peach-coloured dress, visited the world-famous "monument to love" in Agra on Sunday during a 10-day tour of India.
"We have registered a case against Ms Culpo and her team members after receiving a complaint," Sushant Gaur told AFP from the tourism police station in Agra, 180 kilometres (112 miles) south of New Delhi.
"We have booked her under various sections… of India's Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act," he added.
Gaur said Culpo posed for photographers with branded shoes while sitting on the Diana Seat, a marble ledge in front of the white mausoleum named after the late British princess who visited in 1992.
"There are strict guidelines against any sort of branding and promotion at Taj Mahal and the photo shoot conducted was without any prior permission," said N.K. Pathak from the Agra unit of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
A case has also been registered against Indian-born fashion designer Sanjana Jon who accompanied Miss Universe to the site. Registering a case is a preliminary step and the issue may not necessarily go to court.
Visitors must take off their shoes while visiting the monument, an Islamic mausoleum built for the late wife of Mughal ruler Shah Jahan and completed in 1648. Footwear is allowed in the garden area where the Diana Seat is located.
The Miss Universe Organization released a statement saying it didn't intend to offend with the photo shoot, but was continuing the video dairy of the titleholder.
“As part of these videos, we sometimes incorporate sponsors into these shoots. The filming that took place outside the Taj Mahal was never intended to be used as a commercial nor was it meant in any way to be disrespectful.”
The complaint was filed by the monument's caretaker on behalf of the ASI, an official working for the state-run body told AFP on condition of anonymity.
If found guilty, they can be jailed for up to two years and fined 100,000 rupees (US$1,600), Guar said.
The Mumbai-based Mid-Day tabloid quoted Taj caretaker Munazzar Ali as saying Culpo's modelling at the Taj amounted to "disrespect and insult".
Culpo, seemingly unaware of any brewing controversy, uploaded a photo of the Taj to an Instagram account on Monday, a day after her Agra visit.
Culpo, is now speaking up and stated. “I mean, I’m an employee of the Miss Universe organization and following directions given to me,” Culpo told the Providence Journal.
“I guess their vision was, ‘What’s better to identify India than the Taj Mahal?’ But unfortunately it’s something that was highly offensive. Honestly, I did say out loud at one point, ‘Isn’t this a little inappropriate?’”
“It’s upsetting to me that I was a part of that,” Culpo added. “It’s really upsetting because I loved my visit to India, and I would love nothing more than to go back, even in the near future.”
Feature Image: Radiant: Culpo, who is from Rhode Island, visited India for 10 days as part of her Miss Universe duties/AP
Other Image: HIndustan Times
Source: dailymail.co.uk, hindustantimes.com, midday.com, news.yahoo.com
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