Malayalam actor fined Rs 1.14 lakh for carrying jasmine flowers at Melbourne airport

Women wearing flowers in their hair is a common sight in South India, especially jasmine. But this traditional adornment isn’t welcomed everywhere. Recently, Malayali actress Navya Nair was fined Rs 1.14 lakh at Melbourne Airport in Australia for carrying jasmine flowers in her handbag.

Navya Nair had traveled to Australia to participate in the Onam celebrations organized by the Malayali Association of Victoria. Upon arrival at Melbourne International Airport, she was fined AUD 1,980 (approximately Rs 1.14 lakh) for carrying a 15-cm-long jasmine gajra.

Sharing the incident at a public event, Navya revealed: "Before I came here, it was my father who bought jasmine for me. He cut it into two parts and gave it to me. He asked me to wear one in my hair from Kochi to Singapore, since it would wither by the time I reached. He told me to keep the second one in my handbag so I could wear it on the onward journey from Singapore. I put it in my carry bag."