Anna's painting by Tihar inmate fetches Rs.20,000

An oil painting of Anna Hazare by an inmate of India's largest prison Tihar earned him Rs.20,000 in an exhibition, said jail officials.

"M. Lankeshwaran, who is serving jail term for murder, made an oil painting of Anna Hazare which was put up in Tihar exhibition of paintings. A tourist bought it for Rs.20,000," said a jail official Friday.

In 2011, Anna Hazare had spent three days in Tihar when he was sent to jail ahead of his fast for a strong Lokpal Bill.

The 51-year-old Lankeshwaran is among 20 trained painters in Tihar who are teaching painting to 30 inmates, keen on taking up the paint brush as their hobby.

The exhibitions of their paintings are organised at various palaces in the capital which include Select City Walk shopping mall and five-star hotels. Monetary assistance is provided by the Tihar jail authorities. - IANS