PANAJI
The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday announced that the government will initiate process to give back money to the victims amounting to crores of rupees taken under the pretext of providing government jobs, by seizing the properties of the accused involved in the multi-crore jobs-for-cash scam.
Speaking to media at the sidelines of an event, Sawant asserted that no one will be spared, irrespective of their political affiliation. He urged the opposition not to take this as a political opportunity to defame BJP and its leaders.
“No one will be spared …irrespective of his or her political affiliation… we are serious in the matter and will see that the cases are taken to its logical end,” Sawant said, adding that government servants involved in the scam would be dismissed from the service.
Chief Minister also said the government will see how the scammed money can be returned or refunded to the victims. “This will not be done through court cases but will seize the properties of all the accused and refund the amount,” he said.
Sawant said that till date, 18 people have been arrested in the jobs-for-cash scam including a government servant. “We will see more arrests coming up… whoever is named by the accused will be investigated and booked,” he said. The cases have been registered at various police stations across Goa.
“I appeal to people to come forward and file complaints…it is important that all the accused involved in such cases are arrested,” he said.
When questioned about involvement of some BJP workers, including a local woman leader from his constituency being arrested in the scam, Sawant said “there are five lakh members of the BJP in Goa…that does not mean...”
