Delhi Court Orders Seizure of M.F. Husain’s Paintings from Art Gallery

Delhi High Court Orders Seizure of M.F. Husain’s Paintings on Hindu Deities Over Hurting Hindu Sentiments

In a controversial turn of events, a Delhi court has ordered the seizure of paintings by renowned artist and Padma awardee M.F. Husain. These artworks, displayed at the Delhi Art Gallery, depicted Hindu deities Hanuman and Ganesha in what has been described as objectionable poses, holding nude female figures in their hands and on their laps. This directive came in response to a complaint filed by Delhi High Court advocate Amita Sachdeva, who found the artworks offensive. Her application to the Patiala House Court prompted Judicial Magistrate Sahil Monga to order the seizure of the paintings, directing the investigating officer (IO) to submit a detailed report by January 22, 2025.

How It Unfolded

The case began on December 4, 2024, when Sachdeva visited the Delhi Art Gallery at Windsor Place, Connaught Place. She photographed the paintings in question and filed a complaint at the Parliament Street police station on December 9. However, upon revisiting the gallery with the investigating officer on December 10, Sachdeva discovered that the paintings had been removed.

The complainant alleged in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter) that the gallery falsely claimed the artworks were never displayed. She further questioned whether the Delhi Police had secured CCTV footage to investigate who removed the paintings and why. Frustrated by the lack of an FIR, Sachdeva filed an application under Sections 175(3), 223, and 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Act, seeking the preservation of CCTV footage from December 4 to December 10.

Police Findings

During the hearing, the police confirmed that they had seized CCTV footage and the network video recorder (NVR) from the gallery. They also submitted a list of paintings provided by the gallery, identifying the controversial pieces as listed at Serial Nos. 6 and 10. According to the inquiry, the gallery maintained that the artworks were part of a private exhibition showcasing original works by various artists. While the Delhi Art Gallery has yet to publicly respond to the controversy, the incident has reignited debates over artistic freedom and respect for religious sentiments. As the investigation unfolds, all eyes are now on the court’s next steps in this polarizing case.