MF Husain Painting Controversy: Delhi High Court Seeks Response in Criminal Breach of Trust Case
The Delhi High Court has recently issued a notice to the Delhi government and the complainant in a criminal breach of trust case involving a valuable M F Husain painting. This comes after former Union minister Bhanwar Jitendra Singh allegedly borrowed the artwork but failed to return it.
Challenging the summons issued to him by a trial court, Singh has now approached the high court to contest the allegations against him.
The painting, said to be worth over Rs one crore, was borrowed by Singh from the complainant’s mother back in April 2014. However, Singh claimed in 2017 that he was unable to locate the artwork, sparking the legal dispute.
Following a complaint of cheating and criminal breach of trust, Singh was directed to appear before a magisterial court. Despite the initial dismissal of the complaint, a sessions court later overturned the decision and ordered Singh to face the trial court for further proceedings.
In response, Singh filed a plea with the high court, challenging the sessions court’s ruling that there were prima facie grounds for criminal breach of trust charges against him.
During the recent hearing, Justice Ravinder Dudeja of the Delhi High Court requested responses from the state and the complainant, scheduling the next hearing for April 7, 2026.
With the trial court date set for November 25, Singh’s counsel sought permission for video conferencing participation, which was granted by the high court.
The defense team argued that there was a lack of concrete evidence regarding the painting’s handover and pointed out inconsistencies in witness testimonies gathered during the pre-summoning stage.
As the legal battle continues, the case remains under scrutiny, highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability in such high-profile disputes.
