NEW DELHI : A rare Raja Ravi Varma painting — by some accounts his last work — is at the centre of a high-stakes legal battle with multiple ownership claims.The painting, ‘Kadambari’, by the 19th-century maestro, is at present in the possession of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, which assured Delhi high court recently that it is only exhibiting the artefact, being a private museum, and is not going to sell it further.The piece of art, estimated to be worth well over Rs 100 crore, was originally in possession of a Delhi-based art collector, who moved HC alleging that he was “conned” by his close associates into handing it over to them and lost out on a work of immense emotional and cultural value to the country. The associates, he said, sold the painting.‘Imminent risk of painting being transferred to gallery in Australia’In his suit, art collector Mohinder Verma alleged that in 2021 he entrusted the masterpiece to individuals he considered trusted associates, as one of them was also a director in Verma’s company. However, they first tricked him into accepting advance payment of Rs 3 crore in pounds sterling in London, then tipped off local police, resulting in him being jailed abroad.Taking advantage of his incarceration, the people he entrusted with the painting for safekeeping and restoration, with the explicit understanding that no further action could be taken without his express approval, sold the artwork through a web of intermediaries. The suit claimed the painting ended up at a public auction conducted by Saffronart, where the work was acquired by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) for a substantial sum — all while the original owner remained entirely in the dark.Meanwhile, UK police dropped charges against Verma and he was acquitted. On returning to India, he lodged a complaint with Delhi Police against his associates, resulting in an FIR and a probe. While hearing the suit, Justice Mini Pushkarna asked the parties to first pursue pre-litigation mediation. During the hearing, the defendants told court that Verma’s brother and sister-in-law should also be made party to the suit, as ownership of the painting was being claimed by them.HC agreed and said it is “of the view that the brother and sister-in-law of the plaintiff ought to be before this court”. It asked the duo to also appear before the mediation wing with the other parties.In his suit, Verma explained why he rushed to court, claiming he recently learned that the Queensland Art Gallery, in Brisbane, Australia, is establishing a dedicated section for the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma.“Several prominent art dealers informed the plaintiff that ‘Kadambari’ is intended for permanent display at this gallery, thereby resulting in its removal from India and beyond the territorial jurisdiction of this court. The plaintiff therefore states that there is an imminent risk of the painting being transferred to the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane, Australia,” Verma said in his plea.Appearing for the art collector, advocate Giriraj Subramanium contended that those who profit from the commercialisation of art cannot distance themselves from the responsibility of verifying the title and urged the court to hold the intermediaries accountable.With Verma naming auction houses and market intermediaries as defendants in the suit, any decision by HC is likely to impact the longstanding “culture of informality” in the Indian art trade. The suit also highlights that auction houses and buyers must first verify the provenance of the artwork before going further.About the AuthorAbhinav GargAs legal editor for Delhi, Abhinav Garg handles coverage of courts and connected legal challenges shaping the capital. From breaking down complex law related jargon to simplifying how a particular verdict or development in courts may impact the readers, Abhinav brings with him over two decades of experience in the field.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndian Nikhil Gupta Pleads Guilty Of Assassination Plot On Pannun, Sparks Fresh India-US TensionsFarmer Meet Video Sparks Row As Piyush Goyal, Shivraj Chouhan Counters Rahul Gandhi On US Trade PactPM Modi Says India Pushes Reforms With Conviction, Not Compulsion; Poised To Drive Global Growth’Symbols Of British Empire’: PM Modi On North & South Block In 1st Address From Seva Teerth’Umar Bhar Yahi Bhool’: Yogi Adityanath Quotes Mirza Ghalib In UP Assembly To Target SP’s RecordBNP Demands Sheikh Hasina’s Extradition From India After Bangladesh Poll WinCongress Demands Union Minister Hardeep Puri Resignation Over Alleged Jeffrey Epstein Links RowPM Modi Speaks To BNP Chief Tarique Rahman, Congratulates On ‘Remarkable’ Bangladesh Poll Win6-Year-Old Dead, 5 Injured As Speeding Car Hits Pedestrians On Busy Lucknow Road; CCTV Shows HorrorKiren Rijiju Explains Why Modi Govt Paused Privilege Notice Against Rahul Gandhi After Dubey’s Move123PhotostoriesHow to make Lauki ka Kofta for weekend lunch at homeHome loan EMI vs rent payment: Which is financially wiser?Real-life television jodis who tied the knot in reality: Sargun Mehta – Ravie Dubey, Ram Kapoor – Gautami Gadgil and moreTop 5 real estate hotspots in Noida to watch in 2026Exclusive: Krushna Abhishek reacts to Sunita Ahuja’s allegations against mama Govinda, talks about Laughter Chefs 3’s success and working on The Great Indian Kapil ShowGalentine’s Day special: Iconic female friendships in Bollywood that define sisterhood6 Vastu mistakes that are silently blocking wealth in your home (don’t ignore number 4)5 national parks in India that are excellent for birdwatchingLove, in different landscapes: Hills, islands and desert skiesSeva Teerth opens doors: PM Modi launches new PMO complex in New Delhi – see pics123Hot PicksIT Stocks CrashGold Silver PricesBangladesh Election ResultsTelangana Municipal Elections ResultsIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingPatrick MahomesBad BunnyJosh MorrisseyJutta LeerdamAuston MatthewsKayla NicoleAnthony JoshuaChris PaulDarron LeeKyle Busch Net Worth
NEW DELHI : A rare Raja Ravi Varma painting — by some accounts his last work — is at the centre of a high-stakes legal battle with multiple ownership claims.The painting, ‘Kadambari’, by the 19th-century maestro, is at present in the possession of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, which assured Delhi high court recently that it is only exhibiting the artefact, being a private museum, and is not going to sell it further.The piece of art, estimated to be worth well over Rs 100 crore, was originally in possession of a Delhi-based art collector, who moved HC alleging that he was “conned” by his close associates into handing it over to them and lost out on a work of immense emotional and cultural value to the country. The associates, he said, sold the painting.
‘Imminent risk of painting being transferred to gallery in Australia’
In his suit, art collector Mohinder Verma alleged that in 2021 he entrusted the masterpiece to individuals he considered trusted associates, as one of them was also a director in Verma’s company. However, they first tricked him into accepting advance payment of Rs 3 crore in pounds sterling in London, then tipped off local police, resulting in him being jailed abroad.Taking advantage of his incarceration, the people he entrusted with the painting for safekeeping and restoration, with the explicit understanding that no further action could be taken without his express approval, sold the artwork through a web of intermediaries. The suit claimed the painting ended up at a public auction conducted by Saffronart, where the work was acquired by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) for a substantial sum — all while the original owner remained entirely in the dark.Meanwhile, UK police dropped charges against Verma and he was acquitted. On returning to India, he lodged a complaint with Delhi Police against his associates, resulting in an FIR and a probe.
While hearing the suit, Justice Mini Pushkarna asked the parties to first pursue pre-litigation mediation. During the hearing, the defendants told court that Verma’s brother and sister-in-law should also be made party to the suit, as ownership of the painting was being claimed by them.HC agreed and said it is “of the view that the brother and sister-in-law of the plaintiff ought to be before this court”. It asked the duo to also appear before the mediation wing with the other parties.In his suit, Verma explained why he rushed to court, claiming he recently learned that the Queensland Art Gallery, in Brisbane, Australia, is establishing a dedicated section for the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma.“Several prominent art dealers informed the plaintiff that ‘Kadambari’ is intended for permanent display at this gallery, thereby resulting in its removal from India and beyond the territorial jurisdiction of this court. The plaintiff therefore states that there is an imminent risk of the painting being transferred to the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane, Australia,” Verma said in his plea.Appearing for the art collector, advocate Giriraj Subramanium contended that those who profit from the commercialisation of art cannot distance themselves from the responsibility of verifying the title and urged the court to hold the intermediaries accountable.With Verma naming auction houses and market intermediaries as defendants in the suit, any decision by HC is likely to impact the longstanding “culture of informality” in the Indian art trade. The suit also highlights that auction houses and buyers must first verify the provenance of the artwork before going further.
