MUMBAI: The ‘diamonds’ studded in Miss Asia Pacific 2013 Srishti Rana’s crown, which Customs was quick to confiscate citing unpaid duty for the gems, turned out to be pieces of glass.
After the report of a valuation expert confirmed this, Customs released the crown. The Mumbai Customs had, on Tuesday, seized the crown of 21-year-old Rana, who bagged the title in South Korea on October 30. Customs officials had, at the time, said the crown was diamond-studded and hence dutiable as it was not exempted by any notification.
“Initially, people accompanying her told us that the crown had diamonds and was worth around $100,000,” said a Customs official, adding that they also told officials that they would re-export it (send it back) in a month’s time.
However, the official said, when the crown was confiscated, the same people said it did not have any diamonds.
