NT Reporter | Panaji
Claiming that she had told the police last year about the involvement of two senior government officials in the cash-for-job scam, prime accused Pooja Naik has alleged that the police, however, did nothing in the matter.
Speaking to a news channel, Naik said that she has once again provided the names of those two officials to the crime branch police in her statement given on Sunday.
Referring to the role of a current cabinet minister, Naik claimed that the minister in question had introduced her to the two officers in 2012-13.
She said that both the government officers had received around Rs 17.68 crore towards 613 job applications of various departments. They had assured to return the money, but failed, she told the news channel claiming that she has been following up with the officers regarding the refund.
Naik was arrested multiple times by Goa police; however, the names of the officers were never made public. “I can’t tell you why they were not made public by the police. I had given them the names,” Naik told the news channel.
Though the crime branch police has not issued any statement on the issue, sources in the police said that after recording Naik’s statements, the higher-ups, including Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, were briefed on the matter.
It may be noted that the Chief Minister had issued directions to police on Sunday to conduct a fresh investigation into the cash-for-job scam following the allegation made by Naik that a minister, an IAS officer and a PWD engineer were involved in the racket. Sawant had said that his government was transparent and would not bend before anybody. He had also assured strict action against those found to be guilty.
