Jatin Das' stolen painting worth Rs 1.5 cr couriered to Air India

Eminent artist and Padma Bhushan awardee Jatin Das painting worth over Rs 1.5 crore was allegedly stolen by former executive director over a decade ago, was couriered to Air India by an unknown person. However, the value of the recovered painting isn't known yet.

Soon, after they received the courier, AI officials reached the Gurgaon address from where it was sent, only to find it was fictitious. Meanwhile, the committee set up by AI to investigate the case. The painting was last seen in an executive director's office in the Delhi airport.

Das had claimed that one of his painting commissioned by Air India had gone missing and that was available in open market which culd be the result of negligence, theft or indifference.

The theft came to light about the painting when the art curator called him verify a peice of art he had done for Air India prior to its sale.

The horizontal oil painting is titled 'Flying Apsara'. It was commissioned in 1991 by Air India. The painting was hanging at the Air India lounge in the International Airport in Mumbai.

AI owns artworks of some of the country's most renowned artists such as K A Ara, M F Husain, V S Gaitonde, Arpana Caur and Anjolie Ela Menon.

OneIndia News (with inputs from agencies)