Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that fresh FIR will be registered based on the statement of Pooja Naik, one of the accused in the ongoing cash-for-jobs scam.
Naik, who was questioned for nearly five hours by the Crime Branch, made sensational allegations claiming she had paid bribes to a senior IAS officer, a PWD minister, and a cabinet minister in connection with government job recruitment.
“Once the investigation is complete, the government will not spare anyone — be it ministers or senior officials,” Sawant said.
The multi-crore recruitment scam has already resulted in multiple arrests and several complaints across Goa, with investigators examining a network of alleged middlemen and officials accused of facilitating job postings in exchange for cash.
What is Goa job scam?
The Goa cash-for-jobs scam reportedly operated through a network of accused individuals who promised government jobs to aspirants in exchange for large sums of money, ranging from lakhs to crores of rupees.
This scam dates back to around 2014-15 and involved more than 300 victims across Goa. The accused, including Pooja Naik—who emerged as a prime accused and later whistleblower—allegedly exploited the aspirations of unemployed youth by assuring jobs in various state departments like public works, water resources, education, transport, police, and health.
Victims paid substantial amounts hoping to secure permanent government jobs but were cheated as no jobs materialized.
More than 40 FIRs were registered, more than 20 people were arrested, and investigations continue, including by the Enforcement Directorate focusing on money laundering aspects.
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