The Goa Congress on Tuesday called for a judicial inquiry into serious allegations concerning a state minister's involvement in the cash-for-jobs scam, accusing the Pramod Sawant-led government of shielding those responsible for the illegal activities. Speaking to reporters, the Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao, claimed that Puja Naik, an accused person in the case, had named a minister in her statement following her arrest last year. However, he noted that when the subsequent charge sheet was filed, the minister's name was conspicuously absent.
Alemao asserted that public confidence in the police department has been eroded, necessitating a high-level judicial inquiry into Naik's allegations. He stressed that the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party government was actively protecting individuals implicated in the scam.
Naik, who was arrested last year and is currently out on bail, posted a video on social media last week alleging the involvement of a Sawant cabinet minister and two other officials in the multi-crore fraud.
Without explicitly naming anyone, Naik claimed that she had been collecting money from victims on behalf of a minister, a senior IAS officer, and an engineer, all of whom, she alleges, are yet to return approximately ₹17 crore.
Alemao questioned why central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) had not taken action after Naik revealed the substantial sum of ₹17 crore involved in the fraud.
"They should have investigated this case," he said, adding that the money was collected from vulnerable, educated young people desperately seeking employment.
The Congress leader said that the public has no faith in the current government's ability to deliver justice to the victims of the cash-for-jobs scam.
Naik is currently being questioned by the crime branch and the Bicholim police, the agencies that previously arrested her in connection with complaints filed by various victims. In response, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured a thorough investigation into the matter, stating that Naik's claims are actively being verified.
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