JOBS-FOR-CASH SCAM
PANAJI
In yet another development in the multi-crore jobs-for-cash scam, the Panaji police on Wednesday filed a 120-page chargesheet against Pooja Naik, the prime accused in the scam. The chargesheet, submitted before the local court, contains one witness.
A case under section 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code was registered based on a complaint filed by Sushma Naik, a resident of Calapur, Tiswadi alleging that between September 5 and 9, 2020, Pooja allegedly induced her to pay Rs 6 lakh on the promise of a government job.
The complainant made the payment on different occasions, but the accused failed to deliver on her promise. Based on this, the Panaji police registered a case and subsequently arrested the accused. She was bailed out thereafter. Naik has previously been charge-sheeted in two other similar cases investigated by the Porvorim police, and additional charge sheets in related cases at other police stations are expected to be filed soon.
She was the first to be arrested in the scam, which led to several FIRs and arrests. While partial recoveries have been made from the accused persons, the government has urged people who were duped or forced to pay bribes for jobs to come forward and file complaints to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice.
