India
Hundreds fall victim to Goa cash-for-job scam | India News – Times of India
For the past few weeks, a new case has been registered almost every day, with up to three FIRs each at Ponda, Agassaim and Bicholim police stations.
Those arrested include police personnel, senior government officials, teachers and others claiming to have strong political ties. The suspects in several cases secured jobs in various government departments, including public works, water resources, education, transportation, revenue, police and health.
The scam came to light last month when Goa police registered a case against one Pooja Naik for duping several people in the state of crores of rupees by promising them government jobs. Soon after Naik’s arrest, Goa CM Pramod Sawant warned politicians and government employees of strict action in case of their involvement in the scam. Sawant also asked citizens to file complaints if they had paid to secure a government job. “Government jobs are not for sale,” the CM had said.
The modus operandi was different in each case. For example, Naik allegedly told some acquaintances that because she worked in the office of a regional political party in Panaji, she could get government jobs for a certain fee through senior government officials in the transportation and public works departments.
The latest in the long list of arrested people is a resident of Porvorim, Shruti Prabhugaonkar, who claimed that she is BJP Mahila Block president for Nuvem constituency in South Goa. While accepting her association with the party, BJP was quick to add that she was not part of the party “today”.
After Shruti’s arrest on Tuesday, CM Sawant, without naming anyone, said: “BJP has five lakh general members. Even former party members, if they get involved in the job scam, will not be spared. That (person) was arrested.”
In a stern message, the CM also said that the government will seize properties of those involved in the cash-for-jobs scam and ensure that the victims get their money back. “We will not stop filing cases. Property will be seized and seized. To ensure that the money is refunded, we will follow up on every case to the end. We will ensure that the victims get their money back,” he said.
Investigations revealed that the victims were either known to the suspect or had relatives who were seeking permanent government jobs. The suspects used the money to pursue their own luxurious lifestyles by purchasing gold jewelry and luxury cars.
The scam also saw a 51-year-old OBC Corporation employee, Shridhar Kerkar, die by suicide after his name figured in the case. Shridhar had been missing from his home since October 30, a day after Naik and her accomplice, Ajit Shashikant Satarkar (49), were released on bail.
The Congress demanded a special probe but the BJP claimed that it was the government that exposed the scam.
