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Kodagu residents opposing the alleged commercial activities near the Malma Hill in Nelaji village have received support from the Akhila Kodava Samaja (AKS), a community organisation, which has proposed exploring the possibility of buying back the land through community contributions or negotiations with the present purchaser in an effort to preserve the area’s ecological, cultural, and religious significance.

The proposal comes amid an ongoing controversy surrounding the sale of over 71 acres of land in Nelaji village, an area near the eco-sensitive Malma Hill and the Nelaji Igguthappa Temple.

AKS president Paradanda Subramani Kaverappa said approximately 71.60 acres of land had been sold through registered deeds earlier this year. He noted that the transactions appeared to have been carried out legally and that ownership had already been transferred in the revenue records.

However, Mr. Kaverappa said the sale had generated widespread concern among villagers and members of the Kodava community as the land forms part of a sacred landscape closely linked to temple traditions, rituals, and the spiritual heritage of the region.

Acquiring the property for the community

Residents have also expressed fears that any non-agricultural activities in the area could adversely affect the ecology of the region. For the past several days, villagers have been opposing what they describe as attempts to introduce commercial activities near Malma Hill.

As part of its proposed solution, the AKS stated that it would be willing to engage with the purchaser and explain the cultural and spiritual significance of the land. The organisation also suggested exploring the possibility of acquiring the property for the community through negotiations and voluntary contributions from the Kodava community.

The AKS further proposed the creation of a dedicated fund or pool of contributions that could be used to purchase and protect sacred land in the future whenever similar situations arise.

“If the land is eventually acquired by the community, we propose maintaining its status quo and preserving it as a natural and sacred landscape without permitting agricultural, commercial or tourism-related activities and protecting it like a social forest,” Mr. Kaverappa said.

The organisation also suggested establishing an appropriate community body to manage such lands and ensure their protection for future generations.

Sri M responds

Meanwhile, spiritual guru Sri M, also known as Mumtaz Ali, who purchased the land and was planning to construct a meditation retreat project, has responded to the AKS statement. In a letter dated June 20, 2026, addressed to the AKS president and accessed by The Hindu, Sri M stated that he had already withdrawn all proposed commercial activities on the land he had purchased.

He has also issued a separate public statement clarifying that the land was acquired not for commercial purposes but for establishing a self-retreat centre focused on meditation, the study of Shastras, Sanskrit chanting, and advanced yoga practice. However, citing the sentiments of residents and the Kodava community, Sri M announced that he was abandoning all construction plans on the property.

“Since the land in question is considered a sacred place by Kodavas and the development will affect Kodava religious feelings, I have decided not to make any construction on the said properties,” he stated.

The controversy has intensified in recent days, with residents alleging that after the purchase of the land, trees were cut, roads were constructed, and ponds were created within the property. The land was reportedly being used for coffee and cardamom cultivation before the sale.