Team Herald
BECHOLAM: Pooja Naik, a key accused in the probe into the ongoing ‘Cash for Jobs’ scam, was on Wednesday remanded in police custody for five days, soon after he got bail in another case.
The Bechulam police arrested Naik on Tuesday in connection with the government recruitment scam, soon after he was released on conditional bail by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Ponda. He was given a fresh remand order by JMFC Bechulam.
According to Bechulam police, Naik was arrested based on a complaint by a youth, who said he allegedly extorted Rs 2 lakh from him with the promise of a constable post in the state police. The Pururam police may also take him into custody based on which a case of cheating has been registered against him.
Sources said that the police received around 50 applications from job aspirants from his residence. Most of these applications were for posts in PWD, Transport Department, River Navigation Department (RND) and Directorate of Agriculture.
Police will also question people who got government jobs by paying Naik and others who submitted their CVs to him.
The Chief Minister assured the action
Meanwhile, in response to the job scam case, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday promised a thorough probe that would lead to a charge sheet in all relevant cases.
Addressing a press conference after the state cabinet meeting in Mantralaya, Porvooram, he said, “All cases will be thoroughly investigated and no one will be spared. If anyone has a complaint, he can file a formal complaint. Charge sheets are being filed against the arrested persons in their area, while the fugitive will also be nabbed soon.
The Chief Minister, however, advised people not to trust those who claim to offer government jobs. “There are some who are willing to pay for jobs that are not advertised. People need to be vigilant,” he said. Sawant said the state government would soon start issuing job advertisements through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (SSC).