The alleged queen pin in Goa’s multi-crore cash for-jobs racket, Pooja Naik, has once again accused top officials and a sitting min ister of shielding those in volved in the Rs 17.68-crore recruitment scam. Speaking to the media on Sunday, Naik claimed she had already furnished the names of those who alleged ly took money to the inves tigating officers but that ‘no action was taken’. She said she has now reiterated the same names in a fresh state ment recorded before the Crime Branch. Naik alleged that one of the individuals she named is a current cabinet minis ter who introduced her to senior officers implicated in the scam. “I followed up repeatedly with those whom I had paid, de manding a refund. They kept postponing — saying 15 days, 20 days, or after Ganesh Chaturthi. Nothing happened. My family and I were harassed, and the people who had paid were suffering. That’s why I decided to make everything public,” she said. According to Naik, 613 applications were received for various government jobs, and Rs 17.68 crore was collected between 2012 and 2013. “It wasn’t confined to one department — the scam spanned multiple government offices. I named everyone to the police, but I don’t know why their names were left out of the chargesheet. The minister who connected me to the officers remains in the current cabinet,” she alleged. Police sources told O Heraldo that ‘more skeletons may tumble out’ if the investigation proceeds without political interference. Naik was questioned earlier in the day by Bicholim Po lice. North Goa Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta con firmed that her statement had been recorded and that the matter was ‘under examination’. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, reacting to the latest claims, said that while a detailed probe had already been conducted, the government would investigate all new alle gations. “Her statement has been recorded, and a fresh FIR has been filed. If she has named anyone, they too will be inves tigated,” Sawant said at Mantralaya, Porvorim. “The police team will verify all names mentioned. I will personally re view the report once the Crime Branch completes its ex amination.” Power Minister SudinDhavalikar, meanwhile, struck a cautious note — insisting that if any minister, PWD official, or IAS officer is involved, they should face “strict punish ment,” but questioned Naik’s credibility. “I don’t trust Pooja Naik. She might be blaming others to save herself. But let the Crime Branch investigate thor oughly,” Dhavalikar said. He however also cited a similar case in Ponda, claiming police had failed to properly probe a separate job scam involving a suspended teacher. “I’ve seen the documents myself. One teacher took money. Teachers are involved in many such cases — even one from our own school was sus pended,” he said. Former PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral urged Naik to pub licly name the minister, IAS officer, and engineer she has accused, saying that concrete details are essential for any meaningful action. Opposition parties have seized on Naik’s latest outburst to target the government. AAP Goa President Amit Palekar said the scam was much deeper. “This scam is just the tip of the iceberg. A few pawns were arrested, and the government acted as if the matter was over. Jobs cannot be promised or given un less higher-ups are involved,” Palekar said, demanding that the probe be monitored by a retired High Court judge and a panel of two judges. “We cannot trust the police or the Crime Branch,” he added. Goa Forward Party (GFP) President and Fatorda MLA Vi jaiSardesai accused the Sawant government of staging an “eyewash.” In a post on X, Sardesai wrote: “The probe into the #CashForJobScam is an eyewash. Pooja Naik named names a year ago, yet they’re missing from the chargesheet. Even a Cabinet Minister admits the inquiry by Ponda Police was flawed. The BJP Govt is selling jobs and destroying our youth’s future. Silence of the Home Minister = complicity. Goans demand @DrPramodPSawant speak up & act show that a Govt still exists in Goa!” With mounting pressure from opposition leaders and growing public anger, the Crime Branch is now expected to verify Naik’s latest claims and re-examine whether po litical figures and senior bureaucrats were involved in the recruitment racket.
Pooja Naik Names Sitting Minister in ₹17.68-Crore Goa Cash-for-Jobs Scam; CM Orders Fresh Probe
