Team Goemkarponn
Canacona: A major controversy has erupted at the Shree Mallikarjun Devalaya in Shristhal, Canacona, with a section of Mahajans alleging a “coordinated conspiracy” to illegally lease sacred temple land to a private cricket club. The group has submitted a formal petition to the Administrator of Devalaya and the Mamlatdar of Canacona, seeking the nullification of a Mahajani meeting held on July 27 and an immediate investigation into the matter.
According to the petitioners, the temple committee allegedly violated key procedures in a bid to push through a proposal to allot temple land to the Maratha Warriors Cricket Club, a move the Mahajans described as illegal and disrespectful to the sanctity of the Devalaya.
Key Allegations Made in the Petition:
Deliberate Deception: The Mahajans allege that the meeting notice published in a local newspaper cited an incorrect survey number (27/0 instead of 76/1), misleading the community about the actual land being discussed — a property locally known as Fasagal or Fosgadem.
Violation of Law: The petition states that the proposal for the long-term lease was never published in the Official Gazette, a mandatory requirement under the Devasthan Regulation Act, thereby rendering the entire process void.
Suppression of Dissent: The meeting, chaired by President Shri Rajendra Dessai, reportedly descended into chaos as a group of “organized goons” allegedly threatened and physically intimidated dissenting Mahajans. The minute’s book was allegedly taken away mid-meeting by committee members, cutting short discussions.
Questionable Financial Terms: The proposal from Maratha Warriors Cricket Club, which refers to the project as a ₹80 crore investment promising 450 jobs, has been termed by Mahajans as “financially absurd” and “a transparent facade.” The proposed rent of a large 40,000 sq. meter plot is described as a “throw-away price.”
Sacrilegious Allotment: The land in question, Fasagal, is said to house a Muth (temple), Bramhasthan, and sacred well—key elements in several religious rituals. A prior resolution on July 28, 2024, had reportedly declared this land inalienable, making the current proposal a serious breach of tradition.
The petition further alleges the involvement of individuals linked to the Goa Cricket Association (GCA). Shamba Molu Naik Dessai, vice-president of GCA, who represents the Maratha Warriors Club, and former GCA president Chetan Dessai are believed to have contacted Mahajans to garner support for the proposal.
The Mahajans have demanded:
Immediate disqualification of President Rajendra Dessai.
Dissolution of the entire Managing Committee.
A probe into what they term “gross misconduct, dereliction of duty, and active conspiracy against the Devalaya’s interests.”
They have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the temple’s assets and heritage, vowing to pursue all legal remedies to halt the alleged misuse of sacred land.
