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| Indian painter cleared by court | Indian painter cleared by court |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| India's Supreme Court has refused to launch criminal proceedings against one of the country's best-known and most controversial artists. | |
| MF Husain has been accused of obscenity in several cases filed against him in a number of Indian states. | MF Husain has been accused of obscenity in several cases filed against him in a number of Indian states. |
| He is alleged to have offended Hindus with a painting in which he represented India as a nude goddess. | He is alleged to have offended Hindus with a painting in which he represented India as a nude goddess. |
| The court said Mr Husain's paintings were not obscene and nudity was common in Indian iconography and history. | The court said Mr Husain's paintings were not obscene and nudity was common in Indian iconography and history. |
| The Supreme Court also upheld a lower court ruling in May that dropped legal proceedings in three cases against the painter and cleared him of obscenity charges. | The Supreme Court also upheld a lower court ruling in May that dropped legal proceedings in three cases against the painter and cleared him of obscenity charges. |
| Under Indian laws, obscenity is a criminal offence. | Under Indian laws, obscenity is a criminal offence. |
| In its ruling, the court said that the nudity portrayed by Mr Husain had a long history. | In its ruling, the court said that the nudity portrayed by Mr Husain had a long history. |
| "There are many such pictures, paintings and sculptures and some of them are in temples also," it said. | "There are many such pictures, paintings and sculptures and some of them are in temples also," it said. |
| 'Victory' | 'Victory' |
| Mr Husain has been living in the Middle East. He welcomed the court's decision and said he was looking forward to returning home | Mr Husain has been living in the Middle East. He welcomed the court's decision and said he was looking forward to returning home |
| "At last they have understood the dignity of Indian contemporary art," he was quoted as saying by the Times of India newspaper. | "At last they have understood the dignity of Indian contemporary art," he was quoted as saying by the Times of India newspaper. |
| "This is not a victory for me only, but one for the Indian contemporary art movement." | "This is not a victory for me only, but one for the Indian contemporary art movement." |
| Last year, art auction house Christie's rejected demands by a group of expatriate Indians to withdraw the work of Mr Husain. | Last year, art auction house Christie's rejected demands by a group of expatriate Indians to withdraw the work of Mr Husain. |
| The group had threatened to hold demonstrations unless the auction was dropped. | The group had threatened to hold demonstrations unless the auction was dropped. |
| In 2006, Mr Husain had publicly apologised for the painting representing India as a nude goddess. | |
| He promised to withdraw it from a charity auction, after Hindu nationalist groups accused him of hurting their religious sentiments. | |
| Mr Husain, 92, is one of India's leading painters. | Mr Husain, 92, is one of India's leading painters. |
| His paintings are much sought after and are auctioned for millions of dollars. | His paintings are much sought after and are auctioned for millions of dollars. |
| He has also made two Bollywood films, although both failed at the box office. | He has also made two Bollywood films, although both failed at the box office. |