Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Fri day informed the Goa As sembly that Pooja Naik is the prime accused in the cash-for-government job scam, and investigations have revealed extensive misuse of funds collected from job aspirants. Replying to a postponed starred question tabled by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sarde sai, the Chief Minister said that a probe into Naik’s life style showed that the Rs 17 crore she allegedly claimed to have collected from gulli ble aspirants was spent on herself. He pointed to her lavish living, accumulation of wealth, ownership of high-end vehicles and other assets, large sums of money in bank accounts, and fre quent foreign trips as evi dence. Sawant further stat ed that property worth Rs 4.40 crore belonging to the accused has been seized. “The seized prop erty will be used to re pay the victims of the job scam. We are awaiting court orders,” Sawant told the House. According to the infor mation placed before the House, a total of 51 com plaints have been filed in connection with the cash for-job scam — 40 cases in 2024 and 11 cases in 2025. “ 32 cases have been chargesheeted and 19 cases are under investigation. No body would be spared and three accused, including the queenpin Pooja Naik, are still behind bars. Once appeals were made, peo ple began filing complaints against the cheaters,” said Sawant Warning the public, Sawant appealed to peo ple not to fall prey to any one claiming to have links with the government and promising government jobs in exchange for mon ey. The Chief Minister, how ever, refused to disclose the names of persons from whom money was alleg edly collected for securing government employment and the amounts involved. Sardesai had sought to know whether the gov ernment was willing to re lease all chargesheets and internal reports for public review. Sawant said that Naik has also been chargesheeted in connection with the suicide of a government employee who was questioned by the Mardol police in connection with the case.
Pooja Naik prime accused in cash-for-jobs scam: CM
