Handset traced to UP; Agency says device was sold
PANAJI
The Crime Branch has traced the mobile phone which job scam accused Pooja Naik had recently claimed had evidence against the minister and two government functionaries. The device was located in Uttar Pradesh, where it was allegedly sold, and has since been brought back to Goa for further probe.
Sources told The Goan that the phone was not lost as claimed. “The phone was reportedly sold by Naik to another person. The phone was traced to Uttar Pradesh and even brought back to Goa. It wasn’t missing or lost as claimed,” the source said.
The CB maintained that there is no evidence supporting Naik’s allegations so far, although the handset may be sent for forensic examination depending on legal requirements.
Naik – who has alleged that a minister and two government functionaries were beneficiaries of bribes collected from government job aspirants – had maintained that key evidence was stored in one of two phones seized after her arrest last year.
“The phone with the Mardol police had all the evidence against the officers. It was attached after my arrest last here,” Naik had stated, claiming that the device was never returned to her.
