The Times of India group on Wednesday said they would take a week to decide on the controversy regarding the marital status of Laxmi Pandit, the first runner-up at the 2004 Pond's Femina Miss India contest.
"The concern is about the dignity and future of Laxmi Pandit and we cannot decide in haste," A P Parigi, managing director, Times Infotainment Media Limited, said in Mumbai. "We will see all the pros and cons before giving a final judgement."
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The two allegedly told their broker, landlord and neighbours that they were married. She also signed an agreement where she gave her surname as Mishra.
Asked if she would be disqualified if it were found that Pandit lied about her marital status just to get the flat, Parigi said, "This is a good question and prima facie we found out that she had moved into an apartment, but at present we cannot comment on this issue. You all will have to wait for the final outcome for a week."
Asked why they did not crosscheck the personal details of the contestants, Parigi said, "It is beyond dignity to go and ask such questions to our contestants. We cannot go and crosscheck a woman's marital status when she confides and signs an agreement that she is unmarried.
Meanwhile, Pandit came with her mother at the Times office, as the organisers asked her to meet the Femina Miss India management.
However, Parigi refused to say much about the visit.
"Let us keep this in mind that Laxmi Pandit will represent our country on an international platform if she holds her title of Miss India runner-up winner. So we thought that we should take time before making such a crucial decision," concluded Parigi.
