The high-profile Xeldem land grab case has reached the President’s Secretariat, prompting a directive to the Goa revenue department to urgently investigate allegations of illegal mutations and unauthorised construction on over 13,000 sq m of temple land.
In a formal communication, Under Secretary (Revenue-II) Agnelo D’Souza forwarded a detailed complaint to the South Goa Collector, calling for immediate scrutiny of the alleged irregularities and appropriate corrective action.
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The disputed land—Survey No. 172/2 in Xeldem—belongs to Shree Santeri Shantadurga Devasthan and is under the custodial authority of the Quepem mamlatdar. Complainants Vishal Ulhas Gauns Dessai and Aditya Raut Dessai have alleged that fraudulent mutations paved the way for illegal construction on the agricultural property.
According to the complaint, the names of three individuals from a minority community were allegedly inserted into official land records without the required documentation or prior approval from the temple authorities. The complainants further accused the Quepem mamlatdar of certifying these changes without verifying custodial ownership or seeking mandatory government clearance—procedures that are compulsory for any transactions involving temple land.
The directive from the President’s Secretariat signals heightened scrutiny of the case, which has stirred local outrage and raised concerns over the safeguarding of temple-owned properties in Goa.
