Team Herald
PANJIM: The cash-for-jobs probe dragnet that had so far caught the small fish is now netting bigger names with ties to the state BJP, pushing the government on the defensive over how crores were taken from aspirants seeking government jobs.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Shruti Prabhugaonkar, who was arrested on Tuedsay, is the niece of a senior BJP leader. Parag Raikar, the son of freedom fighter and former MLA late Gajanan Raikar, was nabbed earlier and had contested municipal elections backed by BJP in Margao.
The scope of the scam that is inching towards Rs 10 crore shows the deep-rooted corruption that allowed the swindlers to operate for years without being detected. However, close to three weeks after investigations began, there is no trace of the money looted.
Shruti was earlier an office-bearer of BJP State Yuva Morcha and also the president of Nuvem constituency BJP Mahila Morcha. Raikar had unsuccessfully contested Margao Municipal Council (MMC) elections in April 2021 as a BJP-backed candidate.
The pressure of these revelations piled up on the ruling party.
BJP general secretary Adv Narendra Sawaikar addressed a press conference on Tuesday, saying, “Shruti Prabhugaonkar had earlier worked for the party but is not a member of the BJP now. Action has also been taken against Parag Raikar after his arrest in cash-for-jobs scam.”
Sawaikar said the removal of the two from the party was like tainted members being forced out of a club for irregularities.
He said that the government had given the police a free hand to crack down on those involved in the scam, leading to 18 arrests. “Our government’s actions speak of our intent. We will not support unethical actions of our members,” he said.
Reacting to the arrest of BJP functionaries, Goa Forward Party president and MLA Vijai Sardesai, said, “Those who have been arrested in the scam and those who are suspected have one thing in common – they all have their connections with the ruling BJP. Some are office-bearers, members of BJP frontal organisations and some were BJP-backed candidates for municipal elections. I feel hurt at the injustice done to deserving candidates. The government should scrap the recruitment process and do it afresh.”
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar said, “Inquiry has to be conducted into the issuing of fake appointment letters and those whose signatures have been forged, should file police complaints.”
“I had demanded to check the authenticity of the audio clip where a woman is taking the name of Vishwajit. This has to be probed,” he asserted.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State president Adv Amit Palekar said, “It’s now clear why @BJP4Goa is not willing to appoint Judicial Commission for inquiry into job scam. You had a share in the cake (pie). Cat is out of the bag. CM @DrPramodPSawant and President @ShetSadanand you are answerable to the people of Goa and not your spokespersons. Challenge you again for a public debate on this scam. @AAPGoa demands that Judicial Commission be appointed as we believe that @Goa Police cannot probe the scam impartially.”
GPCC secretary Sanjay Barde said, “Shruti Prabhugaonkar arrested by Ponda Police was an office-bearer of BJP and was closely connected to a PA of one of the Cabinet Ministers. It is a sorry state that meritorious students are struggling for jobs and those having fake certificates and money are preferred by the government.”
BJP ‘functionary’ lands in police
net for cheating job aspirants
PONDA: The Ponda Police on Tuesday arrested 36-year-old Shruti Akshay Prabhugaonkar from her Porvorim residence for her alleged involvement in the cash-for-jobs scam.
Shruti, who is a niece of a senior BJP leader, was an office-bearer of BJP State Yuva Morcha when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was the president of BJP State Yuva Morcha from 2010 to 2013. She was the president of Nuvem constituency BJP Mahila Morcha.
Shruti is the fourth woman arrested by the police in the scam. Her distant relative is Dhavali-based school teacher and co-accused Yogesh Cuncolienkar, who was also arrested earlier. Cuncolienkar told the police that he had handed over money to Shruti, but she has denied it.
The police are investigating cash transactions and bank details of the accused. Police also quizzed some job aspirants and confirmed that they had given money to Cuncolienkar.
Though BJP general secretary Adv Narendra Sawaikar claimed that Shruti was not an office-bearer of the party, her photographs with the ministers and some BJP leaders went viral on social media. She has been remanded her in four days’ police custody.
Meanwhile, the police custody of scam queen-pin Deepashree Sawant was on Tuesday further extended by four days.
