Mumbai News: 54-Year-Old Businessman Files FIR Against Bengaluru-Based Art Dealer For Selling Forged Paintings Worth ₹45 Lakh

Mumbai: A prominent businessman has filed a police complaint against Bengaluru-based art dealership Tangerine Art Space and its representative Leena Chetan for allegedly selling forged artworks under the guise of originals, leading to a financial loss of Rs 45.36 lakh and reputational damage.

Businessman Bijay Jasjit Anand (54), a resident of Worli and director of Kyozon Arts Pvt. Ltd., along with his wife Sonali Anand, alleged that the company was duped in 2021 into buying two fake paintings claimed to be originals — one by renowned artist Jogen Chowdhury and the other by late legendary painter K.G. Subramanyan.

According to the complaint filed at Bandra Police Station, Anand stated that their firm purchased these paintings through Tangerine Art Space in January and February 2021. The purchases were backed by authentication certificates signed by Leena Chetan.

Details of paintings : A painting by Jogen Chowdhury (Ink and Pastel, 33cm x 33cm, dated 2003) was purchased for ₹5.04 lakh on January 30, 2021. Invoice No. TAS/20-21/010/A was issued and A painting by K.G. Subramanyan (30cm x 58cm, dated 1992) was bought for ₹40.32 lakh on February 19, 2021. Invoice No. TAS/20-21/015/A was issued.

Later, Kyozon Arts sold both paintings to Diona Art, a Pune-based art dealership, for a combined value of approximately Rs.67 lakh.

However, in August 2023, Diona Art informed Anand that the painting attributed to K.G. Subramanyan was a forgery. In March 2024, they also reported that the Jogen Chowdhury painting was fake, and that both authentication certificates were forged.

To verify, Anand contacted artist Jogen Chowdhury, who confirmed via a certificate dated June 4, 2024, that the painting in question was not created by him and was a forgery. He also sent a copy of the original work for comparison.

Further investigation revealed that the Subramanyan painting appeared to be a collage of elements from various works by the artist and was not an original. As a result, Kyozon Arts returned the money received from Diona Art and recovered the forged artworks.

Anand alleged that when confronted, Leena Chetan of Tangerine Art Space refused to cooperate and evaded accountability. The complaint claims that the art dealer knowingly sold counterfeit artworks disguised as originals to make financial gains, causing both monetary loss and reputational damage to Kyozon Arts.

Leena Chetan speak with FPJ that, Complainant already verified and purchased the paintings, they are claiming that paintings are fake. I will go to the court and i can also file complaint against them.

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Based on the evidence, including invoices, authenticity certificates, and the statement from Jogen Chowdhury, Bandra Police have registered a case against Leena Chetan of Tangerine Art Space for cheating and forgery. The investigation is ongoing.