PANJIM: Even before the legal ink had dried on the interim order restraining a controversial new casino vessel from entering the Mandovi River, Goa’s anti-casino activists moved swiftly to block what they fear could be the next manoeuvre in a long-running battle between corporate gambling interests and public opposition.
The ‘Enough is Enough’ movement on Thursday filed a caveat before the Supreme Court of India, apprehending that the casino company may challenge the interim order passed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, which restrained the sailing and operation of the new 2,000-capacity offshore casino vessel in the Mandovi River or Panaji Port without the court’s permission.
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The caveat ensures that no order can be passed by the Apex Court without first hearing the objections raised by the petitioners and citizens opposing the expansion of offshore casinos in Goa.
For activists, the legal move was not merely procedural — it was an attempt to prevent what they describe as a continuing pattern of regulatory accommodation benefiting casino operators despite mounting environmental, navigational and public concerns.
The dispute centres around a massive 112-metre casino vessel linked to the Deltin group, which has already entered Goan waters and is currently berthed at the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), even as litigation over its proposed deployment in the Mandovi remains pending before the High Court.
Activists argue that the vessel’s arrival itself exposes the gap between official assurances and administrative action.
Enough is Enough core committee member Francis Coelho said the High Court’s interim order amounted to a significant setback for attempts to quietly introduce the new vessel into the Mandovi.
“The High Court has taken on record the undertaking by the private casino operator that the vessel will not enter Panjim Port without prior permission of the Court,” Coelho said, adding that the court had also recorded the government’s statement that any proposal to amend the licence of an existing 70-passenger vessel in favour of the much larger ship would require prior leave of the court.
The movement maintains that allowing another mega-casino vessel into the ecologically sensitive Mandovi would intensify pressure on the river ecosystem while further entrenching an industry many Goans believe has already overwhelmed the State’s identity and governance priorities.
That anger spilled over on Wednesday as the Panjekars Against Casinos (PAC) accused authorities of bending rules to accommodate casino interests.
PAC members demanded that the Captain of Ports either shift the offshore casino vessel Deltin Royale back to its original anchorage or cancel its licence altogether.
The vessel had earlier been allowed to temporarily berth near the Old Secretariat until April 30. Activists say the deadline has expired, yet the vessel continues to remain there.
PAC member Valmiki Naik alleged that the continued extension was linked to efforts to make way for the incoming mega vessel currently stationed at MPA.
“Although the deadline set by the Captain of Ports has expired, the vessel has not been shifted back. We suspect this is because the government is still trying to bring the new casino vessel into Panjim,” Naik said.
Naik also questioned how authorities permitted the vessel to enter Goan waters despite public assurances that it would not be allowed into the State.
“With the court hearing this matter, there should not have been any action of this kind, where the vessel was allowed to enter Goa,” he said.
The PAC has additionally filed an RTI application seeking documents related to affidavits submitted by the Captain of Ports before the High Court in connection with the PIL filed under the Enough is Enough campaign.
The criticism extended beyond legality into what activists described as a broader political failure to regulate the casino industry.
Naik pointed to Daman — where a casino licence for a luxury hotel project was reportedly denied — contrasting it with what he described as Goa’s willingness to permit unchecked casino expansion.
“But the Government of Goa is allowing casinos to flourish in the State while destroying its environment and identity,” he alleged.
Residents living near the present anchorage of the Deltin Royale also complained of worsening disturbances caused by offshore casino operations.
Chryselle Dias, who resides near the vessel, described the casino as “a floating discotheque”.
“There are bright lights, loud music and people screaming throughout the night. We cannot allow this disturbance to continue for residents living nearby,” she said.
Activists also questioned the seaworthiness and regulatory status of the incoming vessel.
Social activist Sabina Martins alleged that the ship brought from Udupi to Goa did not possess a mandatory certificate of survey proving that it was safe and seaworthy.
“It has been brought here as dead cargo, and we are shocked that even the MPA, which is a major port with heavy traffic, allowed dead cargo to occupy 112 metres of space,” Martins said, alleging that casino operators appeared to wield disproportionate influence over port authorities.
