PANJIM: The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) at Panjim has summoned Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik to appear before the court on June 3, as a witness in a cheating case filed against his former staffer.
A Merces youth Mervin Fernandes had filed a cheating case against Vinod Desai, former staffer of the Union minister, in September 2018. Naik is one of the five witnesses in the case.
The Court has warned to issue warrant against the Minister, if he fails to depose before it on June 3.
Desai was working in the office of Naik who in 2014 and had promised a government job to Fernandes, on payment of Rs 6 lakh and had taken an advance of Rs 2 lakh.
Having failed to secure a job, Fernandes demanded a refund of the amount paid. However, the cheque issued by Desai for Rs 1 lakh was dishonoured.
Fernandes on September 20, 2018 lodged a complaint at Old Goa Police Station against Desai. FIR is registered under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code.
The JMFC has summoned Naik to testify and give material evidence on what he knows about the case.
