Agra, Agencies, Oct 11: The police in Agra filed a case against Miss Universe for conducting an unauthorised footwear fashion shoot at the Taj Mahal, insulting the monument’s caretaker.
Twenty-one-year-old American, Olivia Culpo, wearing a long peach-coloured dress, visited the world famous monument on Sunday during a ten-day tour of India.
“We have registered a case against Culpo and her team members after receiving a complaint,” Sushant Gaur said in Agra.
The officer said Culpo posed for photographers with branded shoes, while sitting on the Diana Seat, a marble ledge in front of the monument 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 India-born fashion designer Sanjana Jon who accompanied Miss Universe to the site.
However, registering a case does not guarantee that it will go to court.
Although visitors must take off their shoes while visiting the monument, footwear is allowed in the garden area where the Diana Seat is located. Culpo’s office was not immediately available for comment. The complaint was filed by the monument's caretaker on behalf of the ASI, an official working for the state-run body said, on the condition of anonymity.
He said that she would face a fine if she is found guilty.
The Taj caretaker, Munazzar Ali, was quoted saying that Culpo’s modelling at the Taj amounted to “disrespect and insult”.
“The sandals from a bag she carried were taken and placed on the Diana Seat to shoot pictures, which is not permitted by the ASI. It also amounts to disrespect and insult,” he said.
Culpo, seemingly unaware of the controversy, had uploaded a photo of the Taj to an Instagram account on Monday, a day after her Agra visit.
“We made it to the Taj Mahal. One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! So amazing,” she wrote.
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