S H Raza’s Prakruti Painting Theft: Police Shuts The Investigation With No Leads After 7 Months

Painter S H Raza’s ‘Prakruti’ painting, worth Rs 2.5 crore, was stolen from an auction warehouse in South Mumbai’s Ballard Pier. Seven months after this incident was reported, police on April 9 filed a closure report before the Mazgaon Court. The case was first reported on September 10, 2024, at the MRA Marg Police Station. The case was registered after AstaGuru Auction House’s chief administrative officer, Siddhant Shetty’s complained. In 1992, the Paris-based artist created the picture. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 94. Last seen in March 2022, the 47.2 x 15.7-inch acrylic on canvas from 1992 demonstrated Raza's progression from early abstract landscapes to spiritual geometric shapes. 

Officials have examined the register for entry and exit of the paintings at the auction house’s office and warehouse. They did not find any information about the exit date of the painting, reported TOI, citing a source in the police. The article further mentions that the police recorded statements of eight witnesses, including the staff, but they could not find CCTV footage. In 2020, the painting’s owner, Indra Veer, gave it to AstaGuru Auction House. AstaGuru Auction House then stored it in the warehouse. The painting was last seen on March 24, 2022. In 2024, when Veer inquired about the painting, suggesting that it should be put up for auction now, the auction house realised that it was missing.

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A police officer from the station said, ‘When a painting by well-known artist Sayed Haider Raza called "Prakriti" (Nature), which was valued at approximately Rs 2.50 crore, vanished from the Ballard Pier warehouse, we filed a lawsuit. Throughout the COVID-19 epidemic, the work was stored there.”

After a seven-month inquiry, the Mumbai police have concluded the case involving S H Raza's stolen 'Prakruti' artwork, which is worth Rs 2.5 crore. The artwork vanished from a Ballard Pier auction warehouse. Due to a lack of leads, the case was closed after investigators were unable to ascertain the time or manner of the artwork's disappearance after reviewing evidence and speaking with witnesses.