Mumbai: In a dramatic turn of events, Miss India World title winner Laxmi Pandit today (Mar 31, 2004) voluntarily surrendered her coveted crown on the grounds that she had "misrepresented" herself as a married woman for the purpose of seeking accommodation.

In an affidavit, handed over to the organisers of the contest, she submitted, "I say that I am unmarried till date. I have been never been through any ceremony either valid or invalid, whether civil, religious or tribal--which is reckoned as a marriage ceremony in any part if the world. And I say that I am legally entitled to use the prefix Miss before my name."

According to A P Parigi, Managing Director, Times Infotainment India Media Ltd, the affidavit has been accepted and the committee had accepted her voluntary act of relinquishing the crown.

Laxmi in her affidavit, admitted that she had "represented" to licensor of the rented premises and the sub-registrar to be a married lady "as it was the only basis on which I could get the said premises on leave and license."

"I have, however, realised that such incorrect representation made by me has resulted in me putting in a situation affecting my credibility and tarnishing my image. I therefore, do not desire to represent the India at the Miss World Pageant," her affidavit says.

She further added that "Because I do not rule out the possibility that the panel of judges of the Miss World Pageant considering my incorrect statement to be the criteria to disqualify me and thereby affecting the chances of India winning at the contest."