A Delhi court has initiated criminal proceedings against Assam Congress in-charge and former Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bhanwar Jitendra Singh in connection with an alleged criminal breach of trust involving a missing M.F. Husain painting valued at over ₹1 crore.
The case stems from a complaint filed by Rohit Singh Mahiyaria, who accused Singh of failing to return the painting that had been lent to him in April 2014 by his mother, Dr. Prabha Thakur, a former parliamentarian. The artwork, originally purchased by Dr. Thakur from Mumbai’s Sachi Gallery for over ₹22 lakh, was reportedly borrowed by Singh under the pretext of showing it to his wife before considering its purchase.
According to the complaint, despite repeated requests, Singh did not return the painting and later claimed it was misplaced. After failed attempts to retrieve it, the family served a legal notice in 2017, which Singh allegedly ignored.
Special Judge Jitendra Singh, while initiating prosecution, observed that the accused’s conduct — including false assurances and refusal to return the artwork — constituted the ingredients of criminal breach of trust under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court noted that the painting had been entrusted for a specific purpose, which Singh’s actions violated.
Earlier, on March 21, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal had dismissed the plea on the grounds that the matter appeared civil in nature. However, the special court has now ruled that the magistrate erred in law and facts, paving the way for criminal proceedings.
Despite repeated attempts, Jitendra Singh remained unavailable for comment. Singh, who also served as Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports during the UPA government, has not responded to media queries.
Meanwhile, on November 12, Singh attended a crucial meeting of opposition parties at the Assam Legislative Assembly, convened by the Congress to strengthen opposition unity ahead of the upcoming elections.
The meeting saw participation from key parties including the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI, CPI(M), and CPI(ML), alongside senior Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Rakibul Hussain, and Pradyut Bordoloi. AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi described the session as a “positive beginning,” stressing that “the people of Assam want to see the opposition united” and that unity was essential to end the “syndicate and corruption culture” under the current regime.
