The 2004 Pond's Femina Miss India pageant has run into controversy following allegations that the first runner-up, Laxmi Pandit, is married to an aspiring model, Siddharth Mishra.

Following the charges, organisers of the pageant, the Times of India group, postponed the press conference where the winners were to have been presented.

"We would like to officially state that we are in the process of corroborating the issues that have surfaced involving the recently crowned Ms World 2004-Ms Laxmi Pandit," the organisers said in a statement.

"Once we are thoroughly satisfied with our fact-finding process, we will be in a position to officially present the winners of the Pond's Femina Miss India 2004 at a select media interaction," the statement added.

Asked about her relationship with Mishra, Pandit told Aaj Tak channel, "I am not a married woman and I am single."