NEW DELHI—Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain has said he will return home from voluntary exile after the Supreme Court of India dismissed the cases brought against him for obscenity and offending religious feelings, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports.

Husain, who turns 93 on September 17, has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai and London since 2006 because of court cases and threats against him from Hindu extremist groups offended by his depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses in the nude.

In May, the Delhi High Court dismissed three obscenity cases against the artist, causing a Hindu activist to file a petition challenging the decision. On Monday, India's Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, upheld the High Court's ruling.

The judges described one of Husain's controversial paintings as "a work of art," according to the Times of India. "There are many such pictures, paintings, and sculptures, and some of them are in temples also," the court said.

The artist spoke to the Times from Dubai, expressing his gratitude to the court and his excitement about returning home: "The Supreme Court has shown it is actually supreme. What a great gift. At least they have understood the dignity of Indian contemporary art. This is not a victory for me only but one for the Indian contemporary art movement."