Seeks Rs 17 cr in damages for criminal defamation
PANAJI
The controversy surrounding the alleged jobs‑for‑cash scam in Goa took a fresh turn on Sunday, with senior bureaucrat Nikhil Desai, IAS, serving a legal notice to accused Pooja Naik.
Sent through Advocate Jonathan George, the notice accuses Naik of criminal defamation under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and seeks Rs 17 crore in damages. It claims her allegations are false, malicious, and entirely fabricated, causing significant harm to Desai’s professional and personal reputation.
Desai’s move comes after Naik’s recent public statements linked him to the scam, sparking heated debates across political and social circles.
Naik, however, has maintained that her allegations were not politically motivated. In a video statement, she said she would respond to the notice through her legal counsels.
She further clarified that her decision to approach Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State Convenor Amit Palekar, a well‑known criminal lawyer, was purely on humanitarian grounds.
“I have no political agenda. My appeal for help was only to seek justice,” Naik asserted.
The jobs‑for‑cash scam, which has been simmering for weeks, involves allegations that money was taken from aspirants in exchange for promises of government employment. While investigations are ongoing, the issue has become a flashpoint in Goa’s political discourse, with accusations and counter‑accusations flying between parties and individuals.
Apart from Desai, Naik has also named PWD Principal Chief Engineer, Uttam Parsekar, as having been paid some Rs 17-odd crore to facilitate appointment of candidates in government jobs. She has also named Power Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavlikar, as having directed her to the two officials.
The scam has already dented public confidence in recruitment processes with demands gaining momentum for greater transparency and accountability in government hiring.
Political observers note that the issue could have wider ramifications in the run‑up to local elections, as parties position themselves on questions of governance and integrity.
For now, the legal battle between Desai and Naik adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding saga. With Naik promising to fight back through legal channels and Desai seeking to clear his name, the jobs‑for‑cash controversy is showing no signs of abating, very soon.
