A Delhi court on Monday directed the seizure of two paintings by the late renowned artist MF Husain, which were displayed at an art gallery in Connaught Place, New Delhi, following a complaint that they were allegedly offensive. The paintings featured Hindu deities Hanuman and Ganesha.
The order was passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class Sahil Monga of the Patiala House Courts in response to a plea by advocate Amita Sachdeva. Sachdeva had filed a complaint claiming that the paintings, displayed at DAG (formerly the Delhi Art Gallery), were offensive to religious sentiments. She had visited the gallery on December 4 and photographed the allegedly controversial paintings. After filing a police complaint on December 9, she returned to the gallery on December 10, only to find that the paintings had been removed. The gallery falsely claimed the artworks were never displayed, Sachdeva alleged on social media.
“Is it acceptable to display such paintings in an exhibition under the guise of art?” Sachdeva questioned on her social media post.
In response, the investigating officer took action, and the police seized the security camera footage and network video recorder from the gallery. According to the police’s action taken report (ATR), a list of the paintings, which included the disputed works, was provided by the gallery. The inquiry report stated that the paintings were displayed as part of a private exhibition showcasing Husain’s original works.
While acknowledging the ongoing inquiry, the gallery clarified that they are not involved in the court proceedings and are seeking legal advice. They expressed their intention to review the situation carefully.
MF Husain, who passed away in 2011, was a celebrated artist and recipient of India’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.
