‘Empty Trunk’ row at RV Road Metro: Tejasvi Surya detained amid tight security, police step in to prevent disruption

High alert at RV Road Metro station after protest threat; BJP MP Tejasvi Surya arrives with an ‘empty trunk’, questions state government’s finances, detained along with MLA CK Ramamurthy.

Bengaluru witnessed heightened security and tense moments at the RV Road Metro station after BJP MP Tejasvi Surya hinted at a possible protest, prompting Jaynagar police to take extensive precautionary measures to avoid disruption to public movement.

Anticipating a demonstration involving the symbolic display of an “empty trunk”, police deployed a Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) platoon and additional forces at the metro station. Security was tightened to ensure smooth movement of commuters and prevent inconvenience to the general public.

Tejasvi Surya arrived at RV Road Metro holding an empty trunk and stated that he had purchased a ticket to travel from RV Road to National College Metro station. He clarified that he was not staging a protest or a sit-in demonstration but was only travelling with the trunk as a symbolic act. He said the term “empty trunk” was not his, but the state government’s own description of its financial condition.

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Addressing the media, Surya questioned the financial management of the state government. He demanded the release of a white paper during the ongoing budget session, seeking clarity on Karnataka’s economic situation. He alleged that while the government claims it lacks funds even for shadow cash support, it is planning costly tunnel projects, running into thousands of crores. He insisted that the government must clearly explain the state’s fiscal health to the public.

Surya also revealed that the police had served him a notice the previous day, warning him against holding protests. Responding sharply, he said intimidation through notices would not deter him and reiterated that he was not conducting any agitation.

As tensions rose, police stopped him at the metro entrance, engaged in a brief exchange, and later removed a sticker pasted on the trunk that read “empty government”. Eventually, police seized the trunk and detained Tejasvi Surya, placing him in a jeep. BJP MLA CK Ramamurthy was also taken into custody during the operation.