A Grand Canvas, a Missing Masterpiece: The Curious Case of Husain's Art and a Politician's Pledge

There's a story brewing in Delhi that feels ripped straight from a suspense novel, only it involves a priceless piece of art and a well-known political figure. Imagine, if you will, an M.F. Husain masterpiece — a painting by one of India’s most celebrated modern artists — vanishing into thin air, or rather, into the labyrinthine corridors of a long-forgotten promise. Well, it seems a Delhi court has finally decided it’s high time for answers, summoning none other than Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala to shed some light on this rather sticky situation.

The whole intriguing saga, and it really is quite a saga, began way back in 2005. That’s when the late Balraj Khanna, a respected individual, apparently lent one of his prized possessions – a Husain artwork, mind you – to Surjewala. The understanding, a gentleman’s agreement you could say, was simple enough: the painting was for an exhibition, and it would be returned within a mere three months. A straightforward transaction, or so it seemed at the time. Yet, here we are, nearly two decades later, and the painting? Still conspicuously absent from its rightful home.

And so, as you might expect, things got complicated. When repeated requests for the return of the artwork fell on deaf ears, Balraj Khanna’s son, Ashok Khanna, had little choice but to escalate the matter. First came a legal notice in 2009, a formal plea, if you will. But even that, it appears, bore no fruit. By 2011, with patience surely wearing thin, a civil suit was formally filed. Because, honestly, when a piece of art by Husain goes missing, it’s not just about monetary value; it's about cultural heritage, about trust, about what’s right.

Surjewala, naturally, has maintained his innocence throughout this protracted affair. He’s claimed the painting was either returned or, perhaps even more surprisingly, never even received in the first place. But the court, after poring over the evidence and testimonies, found itself less than convinced by these assertions. In truth, the judicial magistrate, Akanksha Bansal, noted quite pointedly that Surjewala's arguments appeared "misleading and false," especially when weighed against the documents and recorded statements already in play. It’s a tough spot to be in, isn’t it?

So, where does that leave us? The court, after its careful deliberation, has identified what it calls "prima facie" evidence – enough, at least, to proceed – pointing towards serious charges. We’re talking about "criminal breach of trust" (under Section 406 of the IPC) and "dishonest misappropriation of property" (under Section 403 of the IPC). These are not minor accusations, not by any stretch. They speak to a fundamental breakdown of an agreement, a significant lapse, some might argue, in public conduct for someone in a leadership position.

And now, for once, the wheels of justice are truly turning. Randeep Singh Surjewala has been formally summoned to appear before the court on January 16, 2024. The art world, political observers, and frankly, anyone who appreciates a good mystery, will undoubtedly be watching. Will the truth about the missing Husain finally emerge? And what does this mean for the concept of lending, of trust, in a world where masterpieces can simply… disappear?