Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba, detained at the airport here on arrival from France for not declaring jewellery estimated to be worth over Rs 31 lakh, has claimed the ornaments were for promotional purpose and do not belong to her.The 26-year-old, who was let off after a second round of questioning today, which followed a 16-hour-long grilling which took place on her arrival from Cannes, said that the episode was a "minor procedural lapse" being blown out of proportion.The actress was questioned again for nearly three and half hours today, during which she admitted she was not aware of the procedure of declaring the jewellery which she claimed had been carried from India for her stint at the international film festival."Today she was called to our office at Marol in Andheri. Her statement was recorded under Section 108 of the Customs Act, 1962," said Mahendra Pal, Additional Commissioner (Air Intelligence Unit).The AIU of the Customs, in a release, valued the assorted jewelery made of gold and studded with diamond and precious and semi-precious stones and other dutiable goods at Rs 31,32,133, clearing the confusion over the value of goods that was pegged at around Rs 35-50 lakh. The entire jewellery was seized."The passenger (Lamba) has accepted non declaration (of goods) and also said the jewellery was taken out from India while she went to attend the Cannes Film Festival on May 11. Further investigation is in progress," Pal added.
