The customers — many of whom come from other states and fit in a trip here somehow — are heartbroken. “This was one place where we could buy rare books really cheap. How can the police just come and close this market? We have come a long way just to buy books,” said Pradeep Sharma, an MBA student.

But there is little hope in sight for both the buyers and sellers, with the civic body (MCD) stating that it has nothing to do with the market.

“We are not in the picture. This market is illegal and has been allowed to be there only on humanitarian grounds. The police surely can close it,” said MCD spokesperson Deep Mathur. There have been questions about the market in the past and the matter is currently sub judice.

For customers planning a trip next Sunday and the nearly 250 hawkers who have a stockpile of books in the godown, the future looks uncertain.