NT Reporter
Ponda
A woman with a gift of gab from Amona in Sankhali Assembly constituency was arrested for duping three jobseekers of nearly Rs 18 lakh, bringing back memories of the job scam that came to light in the state in 2024.
The woman Suhana Sujay Naik (39) promised jobs in the Health Department to people from Valpoi Assembly constituency. The offers included posts such as health officer, clerk, and driver.
According to a joint complaint filed with the Ponda police on May 7 by three victims from the same family, the jobseekers were allegedly asked to pay money in exchange for âconfirmed selectionâ, with transactions reportedly touching nearly Rs 18 lakh so far.
Suhana allegedly spoke with confidence, made political references, and claimed to have âcontacts insideâ, the complainants said.
Over the period of the last six months, she reportedly convinced the youth that written exams and interviews for jobs were just formalities. To make the job offers looked genuine, fake CBT examination question papers were allegedly circulated among candidates, creating an illusion that the recruitment process was already underway. And the jobseekers believed her, PI Mohan Gawde said.
The woman, who reportedly did not complete her own high schooling, managed to convince a Bachelor of Homeopathy graduate that she could secure government jobs through influence.
The jobseekers stayed silent out of fear that society would mock them for trying to âbuyâ a government post, said the police, who have registered a cheating case against the woman and started a detailed investigation.
The accused was produced before the JMFC court in Ponda and remanded on Saturday to six-day police custody.
Deputy superintendent of police Shivram Vaigankar said the police will thoroughly investigate the case.
