Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone I) Kishor Kshirsagar, when contacted, said he was not aware of the issue. “But we will examine it,” he said.

Anwar also confirms that the No-Objection Certificate sought by them from the Society was not provided by the society. The Consulate approached the Commissioner of Police on May 18 and obtained ‘permission’ to go ahead with the construction.

Arzan Khambatta who recently returned from his month-long US trip does not know the extent of the damage. He says: “This is quite terrible, an affront to art. I will make an informed statement once I have seen the extent of the damage and send a letter of protest to the Qatar Consulate. I am deeply distraught by this news,” says the artist.