Case registered, moral police rush to seize art at gallery After visitor's complaint, obscenity charges pressed against Sanjeev Khandekar, Vaishali Narkar; told to cover work with black cloth BY EXPRESS FEATURE SERVICE AUGUST 6 MUMBAl's moral police had their way on Sunday evening at the Jehangir Art Gallery when they seized exhibits displayed by artists Sanjeev Khandekar and Vaishali Narkar in an exhibition tilled Tits, Cltis n Elephant Dicks. Acting on a complaint filed by a visitor. Pushpa Vitula, the Colaba Policemen had yesterday registered a case against the two artists for "exhibiting obscene painting and sculptures". "Soon after the exhibition opened at 11-30 am today, the police told us to cover all the exhibits with black cloth or remove them. We decided to cover the exhibits," said Khandekar. In the evening, when the exhibition ended, the police who had spent the whole day al the gallery ensuring that the exhibits remained covered, seized the painting and sculptures. ''We have registered a case of ob­scenity, and ate accordingly seizing the exhibits in a legal manner. We have also captured the exhibits in a video. which will be produced as evidence in court,' said police inspector Deepak Dhole of the Colaba police station "It is a work of art. The Jahangir Art Gallery' has allowed us to put up the ex­hibition, and it has been on display for the last eight days. Many people have viewed the exhibition and appreciated it. I don't know why the police arc doing this. My lawyer will challenge all [he charges in court," said Khandekar. Pushpa Vilula, who introduced her­self as a psychologist, was also present at the exhibition on Sunday evening, argu­ing with the police that they should cap ture the exhibits on camera with Khandekar in the frame along with his art. "I agree that this may be art. But there is art that comes from heaven, and then there is art that comes from hell. It's obscene to even utter the title of the exhibition," said Vitula. She claimed that the she had not filed charges, and had called the police to view the exhibits and decide for themselves. "This is ridiculous. We have an FIR signed by her. She is very much the complainant in the case," refuted Dhole. OTHER ARTISTS SAY Akbar Padarmee, painter : What the police have done is contempt of court. When an obscenity case was, filed against me, the high court parsed an order that the police could not enter defile a gallery or confiscate any material from it Jehangir Jani, sculptor: Personally, I don't agree with some of the points that the show brings up but I am in favour of freedom of expression. What the police clamps down on this. Hema Upadhyay, mixed media anist: This is happening because there is no awareness or openmindedness about Indian contemporary art. If they are banning this show, what about khajurah? And cyber sex shops that are accessible to millions? The exhibits are covered with black at Jehangir Art Gallery The Indian Express, August 7th 2006