'Model' impersonates Miss India, DM orders probe

Varanasi, June 15 (UNI) A probe has been ordered by the district administration over a model from Lucknow for allegedly posing as Femina Miss India Earth 2005.

District Magistrate Beena Kumari Meena said here today the Entertainment Tax Office had been directed to investigate into the entire matter, where a model from Lucknow Neha Singh, posing as Miss India Earth 2005, duped organisers of a fashion show and a premier coaching institute here on Monday and Tuesday.

''Taking strong note of the entire episode, an inquiry has been ordered to figure out how such a fashion show was organised in the city without permission from the authorities,'' Ms Meena added promising stern action against all those involved in the incident.

The model from Lucknow, who has only been participating in fashion shows in the Uttar Pradesh capital strutted on the ramp, mingled with students of a spoken English institute and even gave autographs to children of a school here while appealing for vote Taj Mahal among the seven world wonders.

Neha, who stayed in the city for two days, even addressed a media conference on June 11, claiming to be Miss India Earth 2005 and also introduced herself as the winner of a premier beauty paegent organised by fashion magazine Gladrags in 2003.

''Please ask questions...dont stick to my introduction only,'' she had told mediapersons, fearing her fake identity could be disclosed.

Meanwhile, the organiser of the June 12 fashion show, Kala Prerna Manch -- a Varanasi based voluntary organisation -- has blamed Lucknow based advertising company Friends India and Neha Singh for committing fraud and fleecing them of Rs 10,000.

''I have already sent a notice to Friends India owner Wamiq Khan and Neha through my lawyer for committing fraud and given them a time of two days to reply, failing which, a reply a case of fraud will be registered against them,'' Kala Prerna Manch president Vikram Bhardwaj said.

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