MUMBAI: The Indian Customs officials have confiscated the crown of Miss Asia Pacific 2013 Srishti Rana, who bagged the prize in South Korea recently.
The Customs officials, who say the crown is diamond-studded and hence dutiable, seized the crown at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport when the 21-year-old beauty returned from South Korea.
Officials said Rana arrived at the airport, changed and wore the crown to get photographed outside the airport premises. However, the Customs batch on duty confiscated the crown, claiming it was not exempted by any notification.
“Such things are exempted only after a special exemption notification is issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC). Hence, duty needs to be paid on the diamonds studded on the crown,” said a Customs officer. If charged, the duty will be 36% of the value of the diamonds.
