The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a bailable warrant issued against noted painter M F Husain by an Indore court on a complaint accusing him of having outraged religious sentiments with his controversial paintings, including that of the 'Bharat Mata' (Mother India).
While hearing Husain's plea seeking the transfer of criminal cases pending against him at Indore and Rajkot to Delhi, a bench comprising Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P P Naolekar stayed proceedings in the Rajkot case.
The court issued notices to the complainant on Husain's transfer petition.
Senior counsel Harish Salve claimed that the painting in question was a private painting and was put up for auction on the Internet by somebody who named it 'Bharat Mata.' Salve submitted the petitioner was a 91-year-old artist of international repute and has apologised for it.
Appearing for the complainant in the Indore case, senior counsel R K Jain alleged Husain had done similar things in the past as well. Both counsel, Salve and Jain, informed the court they would jointly move an application before the Indore court for adjournment on April 13, the next date of hearing.
They said they would try to sort out the matter amicably.
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