Secret Santa Event In Bengaluru's Cubbon Park Halted As Authorities Confiscate Books, Detain Organisers

The 'Secret Santa' event, organised by the silent reading group Cubbon Reads in Bengaluru's Cubbon Park on Saturday afternoon, was abruptly disrupted when park authorities confiscated numerous books and detained the event's curators.

The incident occurred due to a turnout far exceeding the organisers' expectations.

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The Secret Santa activity involved participants depositing wrapped books, which were then redistributed randomly using numbered chits.

Following the confiscation, the group took to social media, expressing their dismay: "We really hope they give the books back as it was merely a gift... we were not doing it for any commercial reason."

In a subsequent statement, the group revealed that the curators were detained for two hours and had to contact senior officials to secure their release along with the seized books. They were also required to submit a letter of apology.

Cubbon Reads alleged that the park authorities had threatened the curators' professional careers and disparaged individuals who could not speak Kannada. The group further claimed they were threatened with an FIR and a fine of Rs 35,000.

Cubbon Reads has been hosting silent reading sessions in Cubbon Park since December 2022, with the initiative quickly gaining popularity in Bengaluru and beyond.

By June, six similar reading groups had emerged within the city, alongside numerous others outside Bengaluru and internationally.