BENGALURU: The much-anticipated Secret Santa book exchange by Cubbon Reads, an annual tradition that has long brought together book lovers in the city, was unexpectedly disrupted on Saturday when park authorities intervened. Two event curators were detained, and the books brought for the exchange were confiscated for a brief period. Authorities cited suspicions of the event being commercial, despite the non-commercial nature of the gathering, leaving participants confused and disheartened.
The event, which fosters community bonding through book gifting, saw a large turnout, including many young readers. However, things took a turn when a security guard noticed the gathering and informed the authorities. Two curators were detained and told to leave immediately. Efforts to clarify that the event was a community-based, non-commercial activity were met with resistance. When asked for justification, the authorities cited vague “rules” as the reason for the disruption.
The situation escalated further when curators sought clarification, and the authorities threatened to file an FIR. Under pressure, the curators were forced to write an apology letter to avoid a hefty fine of Rs 35,000 and legal action. After two tense hours, the curators were allowed to leave, but the entire experience left them shaken and disillusioned.
“The handling of the situation by the authorities caused unnecessary panic,” one of the curators said. “This was meant to be a joyful event for readers, especially children. Being accused of selling books or causing harm was disheartening.”
The disruption has raised concerns about the unclear permissions process and the treatment of community-led initiatives. Despite repeated attempts to seek clarification, the horticulture department did not respond to queries about the incident.