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Goa: Man associated with ‘Protestant Believers’ arrested for disrespecting Shri Swami Samarth

  • Anjuna police detain suspect following complaints by Shri Swami Samarth Parivar Math

  • Matter concerning highly objectionable remarks made on social media regarding the revered Saint

Mapusa, Goa – In connection with extremely objectionable, defamatory, and derogatory remarks made on social media regarding Shri Swami Samarth, the centre of faith for crores of devotees across India, the Anjuna police have taken suspect Santosh Lamani into custody. Santosh Lamani is said to be associated with the ‘Protestant Believers’ community of the Christian denomination. The suspect, Santosh Lamani, originally hails from Karnataka and has been residing in Vasco, Goa, for the past few years. Giving preliminary information at a press conference organised here, a representative of the Shri Swami Samarth Parivar Math stated that the suspect, Santosh Lamani, is associated with the ‘Protestant Believers’. Police officers from the Anjuna Police Station and representatives of Hindu organisations were present at this press conference.

A full-length statue of Shri Swami Samarth has been installed at the Shri Swami Samarth Math in Siolim. This statue was unveiled on the day of Guru Purnima. Information regarding the statue of Shri Swami Samarth was published on a Facebook page named ‘Amche Goa’. Many devotees had expressed their devotion on this post. On the very same post, it came to light that certain individuals, including Lamani, as well as Milani Mascarenhas, Perpetuo Anthony D’Costa, Edwin Fernandes, Richard Rodriguez, Cyril Fernandes, Beneth Afonso, and Joaquim Rodriguez, had deliberately posted ridiculing and derogatory comments.

Following this, on 30 July, the Shri Swami Samarth Parivar Math, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, and various pro-Hindu organisations lodged police complaints against the persons concerned and gave the police an 8-day deadline to take the suspects into custody. The Anjuna police took action and took one accused into custody within this deadline period.

Government must enact strict law to prevent incidents hurting religious sentiment

Speaking at the press conference held after the suspect was taken into custody, the representative of the Shri Swami Samarth Parivar Math in Siolim said, “The Anjuna police deserve congratulations for taking the suspect into custody. According to the information provided by the police, other suspects in this case are also yet to be taken into custody. The suspect was apprehended well before the deadline given to the police. To prevent the recurrence of such incidents that hurt religious sentiments, it is necessary for the government to enact a strict law in this regard.”

Goa: HJS files police complaint over derogatory comments against Shri Swami Samarth

August 1, 2026

‘Swami Samarth Math’ demands strict action against offenders over offensive Facebook posts

Siolim, Goa – Shri Swami Samarth Math has demanded immediate and strict legal action against those who made highly objectionable, derogatory, and defamatory comments on social media regarding Shri Swami Samarth, who is the centre of faith for lakhs of devotees across Bharat. 

A full-size statue of Shri Swami Samarth was installed at the Shri Swami Samarth Math located in Siolim. This statue was unveiled on the occasion of Guru Purnima. Regarding this, a post was published on a Facebook page named ‘Amche Goa’. While many devotees expressed their devotion, an instance came to light where some radical Christian individuals deliberately made objectionable, satirical, and derogatory comments. 

In this regard, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has filed a complaint with the police. The complaint mentions the names of Milani Mascarenhas, Perpetuo Anthony D’Costa, Edwin Fernandes, Richard Rodrigues, Cyril Fernandes, Beneth Afonso, and Joaquim Rodrigues. It is alleged that these individuals made highly derogatory and objectionable comments about Shri Swami Samarth. 

The Samiti stated that these comments have hurt the religious sentiments of lakhs of devotees of Swami Samarth, and could potentially create enmity and disrupt peace in society. Screenshots of all these objectionable comments have also been submitted to the police as evidence along with the complaint.

The Samiti clarified that in a secular society governed by the rule of law, such repeated insult of revered saints cannot be tolerated. Therefore, the police should take this matter seriously and immediately take strict legal action against the culprits.

Read more on Anti HindusHindu Janajagruti SamitiProtest by Hindus

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