Case also registered against Sanjana Jon, sister of incarcerated designer Anand Jon.
By Rajiv Theodore
NEW DELHI: When Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to fulfill his long cherished desire to see that wonder in marble, the Taj Mahal, his dreams were dashed. Thanks to wrong timing. He came to the gate of this 16th century mausoleum only to go back because he happened to be there on a Friday, the only day of the week it was closed for visitors. But Miss Universe Olivia Culpo was more careful, she went on a Sunday, to this ‘monument of love’, but now is regrets that visit.
Culpo must have floored the universe with her beauty but has failed to impress locals at Agra where she had gone to see the iconic Mughal monument, this past Sunday. In fact a case has been filed against this Rhode Island lass for conducting an unauthorized footwear fashion shoot at the Taj Mahal which was described as an “insult” by the monument’s caretakers.
Culpo, if found guilty, faces up to two years in prison and a $1,600 fine as brand promotion is prohibited at the world heritage site. Her team members too, including fashion designer Sanjana Jon, sister of the incarcerated Indian American designer Anand Jon, could face similar charges. However, legal experts here say that registering a case is a preliminary step and the issue may not necessarily go to court.
The Archeology Survey of India (ASI) was the one to lodge a complaint against Culpo and her agency claimed the photo shoot violated strict product placement rules at the monument.
Reacting to the development, an official of the Miss Universe contest issued a statement on behalf of Culpo, which said, “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. We sincerely apologize for any unintentional harm our indiscretion and insensitivity may have caused.”
The session was organized by the New York-based Miss Universe Organization, which is jointly owned by business magnate Donald Trump and NBC Universal Inc.
Last Sunday, Culpo dressed in a flowing peach-dress, had 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 NK Pathak from the Agra unit of the ASI.
Culpo was accompanied by Jon and others to the Taj Mahal and was in India for a 10-day visit. According to the complaint, as the party came beside the central marble tank, sandals of a particular brand were taken out of the bag by someone in the group. Culpo donned one of the sandals and held another in her hand, reportedly to advertise them, while cameramen accompanying her shot the scene with the Taj in the background, it claimed. According to a Supreme Court directive, any kind of commercial activity is prohibited in the premises of archaeologically protected monuments.
The complaint said that neither the tourism police nor the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) that is responsible for the Taj security, stopped the party from doing the act, ASI officials said
Sushant Gaur, an inspector at the tourism police station in Agra, 180 kilometers south of New Delhi, said that Culpo has been booked under various sections of India’s Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. A case has been registered against Jon too.
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. Taj caretaker Munazzar Ali said that Culpo’s actions at the Taj amounted to “disrespect and insult”. “The sandals from a bag she carried were taken and placed on the Diana Seat for shooting pictures, which is not permitted by the ASI. It also amounts to disrespect and insult,” he said.
In an interview to her hometown newspaper The Providence Journal, Culpo said, ‘isn’t this a little inappropriate?'” Culpo said. “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.”
1 Comment
Yeah, throw her in jail, morons.
That outta help..