A Delhi court has ordered the seizure of two M F Husain paintings at the Delhi Art Gallery after advocate Amita Sachdeva claimed they were offensive. Following her complaint, the court directed the investigating officer to seize the paintings and submit a report by January 22, 2025, while the gallery is reviewing the situation.
Delhi: A Delhi court has directed the seizure of two M F Husain paintings displayed at DAG (Delhi Art Gallery) after a complaint from an advocate alleging that the artworks were “offensive.” The order was issued by Judicial Magistrate First Class Sahil Monga of the Patiala House Courts on Monday.
Court’s Directive for Seizure
The court allowed the complainant’s request for action and stated,
“At this stage, an application… has been moved by the complainant for direction to the IO (Investigating Officer) to seize the painting in question. In light of the facts and circumstances mentioned in the said application, the said application is allowed and the IO is directed to seize the said painting and file a report on 22.01.2025.”
Advocate’s Complaint
The complaint was filed by advocate Amita Sachdeva, who practices at the Delhi High Court. Sachdeva claimed to have seen the paintings during her visit to DAG World at Windsor Place, Connaught Place on December 4, 2024. She stated,
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“I clicked photos of offensive paintings… and filed a complaint on 09.12.2024 at Parliament Street police station after researching past FIRs against M F Husain.”
She further alleged that during a follow-up visit with the investigating officer on December 10, 2024, the paintings were removed, and gallery staff falsely claimed they were never displayed.
Investigation and Evidence
Judge Monga’s order noted that the ATR (Action Taken Report) submitted by the IO confirmed the seizure of CCTV footage and the NVR (Network Video Recorder) from the art gallery. The gallery also provided a list of artworks, mentioning the paintings in question at Serial No. 6 and 10. The exhibition reportedly took place in a private space and was intended to showcase original works by artists.
DAG’s Response
The DAG issued a statement on Tuesday, saying,
“Pending an enquiry into a few select works of M F Husain at a recent exhibition, DAG is reviewing the situation and seeking counsel. We are not party to any court proceedings so far, and are trying to follow the developments. We will come back to you as soon as we have an update on the issues at hand.”
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About DAG
Established in 1993, the DAG holds the largest collection of premodern and modern Indian art, spanning the 18th to 20th centuries. The gallery has been a key institution for preserving and promoting Indian art globally.
The court has directed the investigating officer to file a report on January 22, 2025, providing updates on the seizure and related developments.
Case Title – AMITA SACHDEVA Vs. STATE AND ORS
Read the Judgement here:
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