Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday launched a fresh attack on the BJP-led state government, alleging a large-scale cover-up in the ongoing Cash-for-Jobs scam. AAP Working President and national spokesperson Valmiki Naik accused the Sawant government of concealing the true extent of the fraud and manipulating the investigation.
Naik said that in response to an LAQ raised by AAP MLA Cruz Silva in March 2025, the government had claimed the total amount involved across all FIRs was ₹9.25 crore. “But Pooja Naik has revealed that she alone allegedly collected nearly ₹17.68 crore. She is just one accused among 45 FIRs. This means the real magnitude of the scam is far higher than what the government admitted. Why is the Sawant Sarkar suppressing facts even after a year of so-called investigation?” he questioned.
He further criticised Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant for “using the police for media management,” arguing that a second FIR cannot be lodged in the same case unless new evidence or a fresh offence emerges. “Pooja Naik has already named the minister and officials in her earlier statement. What new evidence does the CM claim to have that justifies another FIR, and why does the police need additional time?” he asked.
Naik added that job scams were traditionally linked to private middlemen duping youth with promises of overseas employment. “It is a national shame that Goa’s own government is now being accused of a similar racket, involving ministers and officials, leaving young Goans without both jobs and their hard-earned money,” he said.
AAP demanded that the minister and officials named in the case be immediately dismissed and that a time-bound judicial inquiry be instituted.
