Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has promised a thorough investigation after one of the accused in the state’s high-profile cash-for-jobs scam alleged that a cabinet minister, a senior IAS officer, and an engineer were directly involved in the racket.
Accused Claims Minister and Officials Involved
Puja Naik, who was arrested in 2024 in connection with the multi-crore recruitment scam, released a video on social media on Friday making explosive claims. In the video, Naik alleged that she had collected money from job aspirants on behalf of a serving minister in the Sawant government, a senior bureaucrat, and an engineer.
She further claimed that the trio had not yet returned around ₹17 crore collected from various victims who were promised government jobs.
CM Pramod Sawant Assures Strict Action After Statement
Reacting to the allegations, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday that the police will record Naik’s statement before a magistrate.
“Her statement would be recorded in the presence of a magistrate and the police. Let her reveal the name of the minister or whoever she claims to have been involved,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister assured that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty once the allegations are verified through a proper investigation.
Background: The Goa Cash-for-Jobs Scam
The case dates back to October 2024, when Puja Naik was arrested for allegedly taking large sums of money from job seekers on the pretext of securing government positions. Multiple police stations across Goa, including Ponda and Bicholim, registered complaints against her and several others.
Investigations revealed that many aspirants paid lakhs of rupees to middlemen in hopes of employment in government departments. The scandal has since sparked widespread outrage, highlighting corruption in recruitment processes.
Political and Public Reaction
The allegations have caused a political stir in Goa, with opposition parties demanding transparency in the probe and calling for the immediate suspension of any official found complicit. Civil groups have also urged the state government to fast-track investigations and ensure justice for duped aspirants.
What’s Next
The Goa Police are expected to summon Puja Naik for a detailed statement this week. Based on her testimony, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) may widen the probe to include senior government functionaries named in the allegations.
Chief Minister Sawant reiterated that his government “will not protect anyone involved in corruption, regardless of their position.”
