Hussain's Mumbai property seized

Painter M F Hussain is once again the target of the moral police, this time his properties in Mumbai have been seized at the orders of a Haridwar court hearing a case against him for the obscene depiction of Hindu gods.

The court in Haridwar has declared Husain an offender for ignoring summons.

The move came after the court, hearing a case on Husain's obscene depiction of Bharat Mata and Krishna, gave Mumbai police the orders.

MF Hussain owns a 2,700 sq ft first floor apartment at Jolly Maker 3 in a prime south Mumbai locality called Cuff Parade.

According to sources the estimated worth of this flat is around Rs 4 crore in the market.

Husain's eldest son Shrafat Husain lives here but is now vacationing in Dubai. He will be back only next month.

Meanwhile one Micheal is taking care of this apartment. After the police's visit this morning sources say Micheal has locked the doors and left.

''We have recieved the order from the Haridwar court and have will be seeking details of the properties from the family,'' said Brijesh Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police.

In 2006, lawyer, Arvind Srivastava filed an obscenity case against the painter.

Widespread protests

It was after widespread protests by Hindu rightwing groups for Hussain's depiction of Bharat Mata and Krishna a part of the Mission Kashmir series to raise funds for the earthquake victims.

''In February 2006 he made an obscene painting of Mother India. This hurt our sentiments,'' said Anand.

''It is silly how courts have quickly issued bailable, non-bailable warrants against Husain and now ordered attachment of his properties. There are other important cases but magistrates only concentrate on celebrity cases which are not that important,'' said Satish Maneshinde, lawyer.

All attempts earlier to get Hussain back to India have failed and many see this new move by the Hardiwar court as a last ditch attempt to make the ailing barefoot painter appear in court.