NT Reporter | Mapusa
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday directed the police to conduct a fresh investigation into the cash-for-job scam following an allegation made by prime accused Pooja Naik that a minister, an IAS officer and a PWD engineer were involved in the Rs 17 crore recruitment racket.
Asking police to register a new First Information Report (FIR) by summoning Naik, Sawant said that instead of making a public statement, Naik should provide details to the investigating agencies.
“She may name whoever she wants to before the investigating officer. There is no need to approach me personally. Let her statement be recorded before the investigating authorities in the presence of the magistrate and police. Let her reveal the name of minister or whoever she claims to have been involved,” the Chief Minister said.
Assuring that strict action will be taken against all those found to be guilty, Sawant said the government is transparent and will not bend
before anybody.
The cash-for-job scam got a new twist with Naik recently alleging in a televised interview the involvement of a minister, an IAS officer and a PWD engineer. Naik also threatened to reveal the names within 24 hours if money was not returned. She, however, failed to follow through.
Naik has claimed that over 600 aspirants paid cash for promised government posts, which were allegedly facilitated by the trio.
Claiming that she had sold everything to repay the people from whom she collected the money, Naik said that she had repeatedly approached the accused for reimbursement without success.
While she claimed the IAS, PWD official and a minister were involved, she withheld the minister’s identity, citing safety concerns.
