Cases against the painter transferred to Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court today ordered the transfer of four criminal cases against famous painter M F Hussain pending in MP, Gujarat and Maharashtra for portraying the Hindu gods and goddesses in a derogatory way to Patiala house courts, New Delhi keeping in view the personal security of the petitioner painter.

A Bench comprising Justices K G Balakrishnan and D K Jain, however, directed that the petitioner will bear the expenses of all the witnesses in the case who would come from the three states to depose.

Two cases are pending in Bhopal and Indore in MP, one in Rajkot, Gujarat and the fourth in Pundarpur in Maharashtra and fifth case is already pending against him Patiala house courts.

The petitioner has denied the allegations that he painted pictures of goddess Durga and Bharatmata in an objectionable manner hurting the religious sentiments of followers of Hinduism.

The 80-year-old painter is facing allegations of disturbing communal harmony and defamation.

UNI AKS/SC RP KN1807