PANAJI
The prime accused in the jobs-for-cash case, Pooja Naik, was questioned again on Tuesday ” the second time in two days ” after she made fresh claims linking a minister, an IAS officer, and a PWD officer to the scam.
Naik was interrogated for nearly three hours, following a five-hour session on Sunday. Although the details of Tuesday’s questioning were not revealed, sources said the Crime Branch is carrying out a preliminary inquiry into her new allegations. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has directed that an FIR be filed and summons issued to those named by her, after verifying her claims.
In a recent interview, Naik alleged that she handed over Rs 17 crore in bribe money to a senior IAS officer, a PWD officer, and a minister on behalf of around 600 job seekers ” none of whom eventually got government jobs.
Sawant said strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty. Police, however, have not commented on Naik’s claim that she had already named the three officials in her earlier statements while in custody.
