Urvashi Rautela sparks legal debate in Tiranga-inspired gown: ‘Took 3 months to create’

Model and actress Urvashi Rautela made waves during the Miss Universe India pageant finale when she stepped onto the ramp adorned in a tricolour-inspired gown. The daring ensemble featured a strapless corset dress in orange and green, with beaded embellishments and an Ashok Chakra emblem placed at her waist. Netizens were quick to scrutinize the design, sparking a debate over whether the gown violated legal provisions that forbid the national flag from being used or displayed as part of a costume, particularly when it trailed on the ground.

Urvashi Rautela, in her third year as a judge, attributed her outfit's creation to international designer Dasha, who spent three months crafting the unique piece. Experts consulted by the publication emphasized that while the gown did raise a legally arguable issue under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, the ultimate determination of an offence would hinge on factors such as the design's intent, whether it constituted a direct representation of the flag, and the wearer's intent in wearing it.