Husain seeks transfer of case to SC
WORLD-RENOWNED painter and alumni of Indore School of Art, Maqbool Fida Husain, has said that he feared for his life and could be attacked upon his arrival in Indore.
WORLD-RENOWNED painter and alumni of Indore School of Art, Maqbool Fida Husain, has said that he feared for his life and could be attacked upon his arrival in Indore.
In a telegram sent to the court of Judicial Magistrate Class I, Narendra Kumar Jain, through his counsel Akhil Sibbal, the painter has sought four weeks’ time to transfer his case to the Supreme Court.
He made this appeal in response to a private complaint filed against him for his controversial painting on Bharat Mata. After hearing the applicant and respondent, the Judicial Magistrate today ordered issuance of bailable warrant against Husain.
The next hearing will take place on April 13. Akhil, son of Supreme Court lawyer and Union Minister Kapil Sibbal, who did not appear in person, stated that his client would soon be filing an application at the apex court for adjudication of the case where he would feel safe to depose.
The painter has been charged with hurting the religious sentiments, displaying obscenity at public place, defaming Bharat Mata and conspiring to cause communal unrest and disunity in the country.
Complainant and local businessman Ajay Singh Naruka has filed the case under Sections 292, 294, 298 and 500 of IPC through his counsel Chandra Shekhar Raikwar.
The Judicial Magistrate had issued summons to the painter on March 27. The private complaint is a fall-out of series of protests triggered in the State over Husain’s controversial painting.
A section of lawyers from Indore District Bar Association too had joined the protest last month and dissuaded other lawyers to defend the artiste whom they termed as traitor.
Apart from protests by saffron brigade for hurling insult to Bharat Mata, Congress leader Akhtar Baig too had announced a cash award of Rs 10 lakh for the person who would chop off Husain’s hands.