Delhi’s Patiala Court orders to preserve CCTV footage of ‘Delhi Art Gallery’ in derogatory paintings case

Delhi Art Gallery had secretly removed controversial paintings by anti-Hindu painter M F Hussain and manipulated evidence

(Please note : The image here is meant to highlight the nature of denigration and not to hurt the sentiments of devotees. – Editor)

New Delhi – On a complaint filed by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and other pro-Hindu organizations regarding the display of objectionable paintings of Hindu Deities drawn by anti-Hindu artist M F Hussain, Metropolitan Magistrate Sahil Monga of Patiala House Court has ordered the Police to preserve the CCTV footage of the Delhi Art Gallery from December 4th till December 10th, 2024. The next hearing will be held on January 4th, 2025.

HJS spokesperson Narendra Surve said that this order was a big victory for pro-Hindu organizations fighting for the protection of Hindu Dharma. The order would help reveal the truth. We have demanded to the Government that strict legal action be taken against those who tried to destroy evidence in this case.

कला के बहाने हिंदू देवी-देवताओं के नग्न चित्रों का प्रदर्शन कर कौन सुलगा रहा है भारत को?

Full Video : https://t.co/vyIVC8gbsR@SachdevaAmita @narendrasurve2 @hindujan188 #Mfhussian #Mfhussianpainting #Arts #Cinema #delhiartgallery pic.twitter.com/FHRv8j8T3V

— cliQ India (@cliQIndiaMedia) December 14, 2024

🚨 Urgent action needed by Delhi Police against Delhi Art Gallery for objectionable paintings!

An exhibition at the Delhi Art Gallery showcased paintings that blatantly disrespect Hindu Deities, sparking public discontent. Complaints led to police action, but the artworks were… pic.twitter.com/lSWlhvWZ9U

— HinduJagrutiOrg (@HinduJagrutiOrg) December 12, 2024

What is the matter ?

In the exhibition titled ‘Hussain: The Timeless Modernist’ at the Delhi Art Gallery featured nude and objectionable paintings of Hindu Deities drawn by anti-Hindu painter M F Hussain. One painting showed a nude woman (perhaps Riddhi/Siddhi) on the lap of Deity Ganesh. Another painting showed Deity Hanuman flying with a nude woman (perhaps Sita) in his arms. Another painting showed a nude woman on Deity Shiva’s lap in a highly objectionable manner. It is clear that these paintings were deliberately created to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. The HJS had demanded strict legal action against the organizers under Section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 299 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The manipulation by ‘Delhi Art Gallery’

Following the complaint, the gallery management secretly removed the controversial paintings; but during Police interrogation, they denied that these paintings were displayed at all. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s advocate Amita Sachdeva and others moved the Patiala Court seeking preservation of the CCTV footage and registration of a case. The Court accepted this demand and directed the Delhi Police to preserve the footage from the relevant period and submit a report.

हिन्दूद्वेषी चित्रकार एम.एफ. हुसैन की आपत्तिजनक पेंटिंग चुपचाप हटाकर सबूतोंके साथ छेड़छाड़ मामले में पटियाला हाउस न्यायालय के माननीय मेट्रोपॉलिटन मजिस्ट्रेट श्री. साहिल मोंगा ने संबंधित अवधि (4 dec 2024 से 10 dec 2024) की cctv फुटेज सुरक्षित रखनेका आदेश दिया है। @HinduJagrutiOrg pic.twitter.com/mAbPTsiKdh

— HJS_Delhi-NCR (@HJS_Delhi) December 19, 2024

Senior Supreme Court advocate Makarand Adkar, advocate Shantanu, advocate Kesari, advocate Vikram, advocate Yadavendra, Sanatan Swabhiman Sabha president Brijesh Sharma and HJS spokesperson Narendra Surve are involved in this fight.