Disable the spotlight section in elgg

In pageshells file >>> elggroot/views/default/pageshells/pageshells.php

Comment the following line

    <?php  echo elgg_view('page_elements/spotlight', $vars); ?>

<?php
if(isloggedin()){
?>
    <!-- spotlight -->
   <?php //echo elgg_view('page_elements/spotlight', $vars); ?>
<?php
}
?>

Note: If you enable new theme edit the above line in themes views/default/pageshells/pageshells.php file