Hearing on petition against Hussain adjourned

Mumbai, May 2 (UNI) Bombay High Court today adjourned till June 12, the hearing on a petition against acclaimed artist M F Hussain's alleged derogatory paintings of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, as the court was told that the painter had tendered an unconditional apology.

A division bench comprising Justices D G Deshpande and V K Tahilramani adjourned the hearing after Hussain's counsel Amit Desai said that his client had apologised in the matter.

The matter is also pending in the Apex court.

The HC also directed Hussain to file an affidavit in this regard.

The petition against Hussain was filed in February by social activist Satish Nadkarni, claiming that in this regard four complaints had been filed against the artist in the various police stations of Mumbai and Thane. However, police had not taken cognisance of the complaint and treated it only as a normal complaint, inspite the criminal offence was disclosed.

He argued before the court for a direction to the police to register an offence under the various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

UNI XR-GK MSJ RS1536