‘Duping’ charge mars Mrs India beauty pageant

Forty contestants of a Mrs India beauty pageant to be held in Dubai on Monday approached the airport police with complaints that the organisers allegedly duped them. According to the complaint, the contestants were to be flown to Dubai to participate in the pageant on November 7, but they were not taken there as the event has been postponed to November 14.

Each contestant had paid Rs 75,000 to the organisers as participation fee. Apart from approaching the police, the participants have also sought support of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders. At the time of going to the press, around 15 participants were registering an FIR at the domestic airport police station, Vile Parle (east). Some of the organisers from Sri Sai Entertainment Ltd and a few MNS leaders were present at the police station around 8.30 pm. “We are currently taking statements of the participants. The FIR will be registered shortly. The version of the organiser, Bharat Bhramar, has already been taken,” said an investigating police officer from the domestic airport police station, Vile Parle.

Confirming the complaint, Ms Alka Mandave, senior police inspector of the domestic airport police station told The Asian Age, “We have taken the statements and the police investigation is on.” Rakesh Dhanawade, an MNS party worker, said that on Saturday some of the participants had approached MNS leader Shalini Thackeray with their complaints. “Following the complaints received from the participants, MNS workers on Sunday evening visited a hotel located near the domestic airport to help to them.” The 40 participants are staying at the hotel as per the arrangements made by the organisers.

When contacted, Mr Bharat Bhramar, director of Sri Sai Entertainment Limited said, “We have been organising this event for the past six years. This year, it was planned for November 12 in Dubai. After getting the visa process done for the women, we came to know that crowning is not allowed in Dubai. We told the participants that we’d hold the grand finale in Mumbai and visit Dubai later.” Mr Bharmar said that unfortunately they were unable to book a five star hotel for the finale in Mumbai. “So we transferred the dates to November 18 and told the women about the new changes. But some of the participants were not happy with the plan and delay. We have asked them to leave the hotel once they receive their refund.” Sources said that the organisers had told the participants that they would deduct the hotel expenses from the Rs 75,000 paid by them and then they could leave, but the women were not happy with it and demanded their complete money back.

A participant, who identified herself as Ms Geeta said, “As many as 120 women had participated in the Mrs India – India World Wide competition. The 40 short-listed participants have paid Rs 75, 000 to take part in the competition. On Sunday morning, all the women were informed that now the organisers would take them to Dubai on November 13. Reacting to it, the women asked about the accommodation facilities and inquired about the reason for not taking them to Dubai on the first given date.”

Arun Surve, of MNS’s Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena said that the organisers had promised to hold the grand finale in Dubai. “But, at the last moment, when the participants started asking about the Dubai trip, the organisers started avoiding them,” he stated. On Sunday, after MNS workers visited the hotel, police officers of the domestic airport police station also reached the spot to maintain law and order. According to a police officer, the organisers asked the women to stay if they wished to got with them to Dubai or take their money and leave.