A legal conflict between two New York art-dealing brothers over the names of their respective businesses has escalated from breach of contract charges to assault charges.
Harry Hutchison’s complaint against Projjal Dutta and Aicon Contemporary, filed on October 21, 2025, alleges that on April 11, Hutchison was “accosted” by Dutta while working on the second floor of 35 Great Jones Street in New York. The complaint alleges that Dutta “assaulted, beat and battered” him, causing “serious and permanent injuries” and “pain, shock and mental anguish,” as well as substantial medical bills and loss of the ability to “perform normal activities.”
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Lawyers for Projjal Dutta said in response that as a defendant, Dutta “had reason to believe that (Hutchison) was using or was about to use unlawful force against the defendant, and if the defendant used force, he would use only such force as the defendant reasonably believed was necessary to protect himself from imminent harm.”
Dutta claimed that Hutcheson actually “pushed, punched and assaulted Dutta,” causing himself “serious and permanent injuries.” He claimed that Hutchison knowingly made a false statement to police after the incident, noting that Dutta was arrested and arraigned for Hutchison’s false statement. The complaint states that on June 13, the case against Dutta was “adjourned for consideration of dismissal,” meaning the case could be dismissed and the charges sealed if Dutta meets the court’s requirements and stays out of trouble.
Urgent matters The new, competing accusations were reported earlier.
Aiken Art’s website.
Aikang Art
Aicon Gallery was in business for 20 years until dueling brothers Prajit Dutta and Projjal Dutta parted ways in 2019. Aicon Contemporary, represented by Projjal Dutta, filed a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court in October against defendants Prajit Dutta and director Hutchison, representing Aicon Art and ArtsIndia.com. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of false designation of origin, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract because the defendants “misleadingly and unlawfully” used the name Aicon without the accompanying word “Art,” which they reportedly agreed to do. The galleries share a business location on Great Jones Street and a phone number on their respective websites.
Neither Dutta responded. art newsRequest for comment.
