IAS Officer Nikhil Desai has issued a legal notice to Pooja Naik, seeking ₹17 crore in damages for alleged criminal defamation. According to the notice, issued by Advocate Jonathan B. George, Naik accused Desai of involvement in a “cash-for-jobs scam” with “false, fabricated, baseless, and malicious” allegations. The notice demands legal redress for both criminal defamation and civil damages.
This lawsuit follows Naik’s public accusations naming Desai along with other officials, including Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and PWD Chief Engineer Uttam Parsekar, in a widely discussed scam scandal that rattled Goa’s political landscape in 2024. The case has drawn significant public attention and political commentary, with opposition leaders demanding further investigation and accountability from the government.
