The auction titled, 'MF Husain: An Artist's Vision of the XX Century,' features 25 canvases from his 'Our Planet Called Earth (OPCE)' series. In May 2024, art specialist Dadiba Pundole submitted a valuation report to HC, estimating the collection's worth at Rs 25 crore
The artworks, part of a recovery effort by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) in connection with a loan default case, will go under the hammer on June 12. Representational pic
The Bombay High Court (HC) has granted approval for the auction of 25 rare paintings by MF Husain. The artworks, part of a recovery effort by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) in connection with a loan default case, will go under the hammer on June 12.
The auction titled, 'MF Husain: An Artist's Vision of the XX Century', includes 25 canvases painted as part of the painter's Our Planet Called Earth (OPCE) series, reported PTI.
In its February 17 order, a single bench of Justice RI Chagla permitted the Sheriff of Mumbai to auction the 25 paintings, secured by NAFED in connection with the Rs 236-crore loan dispute with industrialist Guru Swarup Srivastava's Swarup Group of Industries.
Srivastava came into the limelight in 2007 when he commissioned 100 paintings of MF Husain at Rs 1 crore each.
Last year in May, art specialist Dadiba Pundole submitted a valuation report to HC, estimating the collection's worth at Rs 25 crore, reported PTI.
Pursuant to the HC order, the Sheriff of Mumbai in February issued an auction notice for the paintings through Pundole Art Gallery.
The auction is scheduled on June 12 at the Hamilton House in South Mumbai.
After the auction is complete, the Sheriff of Mumbai has been directed to file a report to the high court by July 3 and obtain final directions for the handover of the works.
In 2006, the CBI initiated a probe into the Swarup Group and against Srivastava for alleged misappropriation of Rs 150 crore from the Rs 236 crore loans from NAFED, reported PTI.
A tribunal in December 2008 permitted NAFED to secure assets of Rs 100 crore, including the Husain paintings.
Bombay High Court directs for clearance certificate to stalking accused for passport renewal
In a recent order, a bench of the Bombay High Court directed the city police and the passport department to issue a clearance certificate to a man for the renewal of his passport. The decision was delivered by the division bench of Justice GS Kulkarni and Advait Sharma for the applicant, who has been accused of stalking, to travel to Canada for studies.
According to PTI, the police ought to have issued the certificate when the man had been permitted to travel abroad by the court, a division bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Advait Sethna said in an order passed last month.
While addressing the matter in the present case, the Malad Police in April issued a negative report on the ground that a criminal case (of stalking) was pending against the man.
(With PTI inputs)
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