Team Goemkarponn
PONDA: The high-profile jobs-for-cash scam in Goa has taken a fresh twist after the main accused, Pooja Naik, refused to undergo a narco-analysis test sought by investigators.
According to sources, Naik declined to give her consent when approached by the Crime Branch as part of the ongoing probe. Following her refusal, the agency has now approached the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Ponda, seeking permission to proceed further in the matter.
The scam, which surfaced last year, sparked major controversy across the state after allegations emerged that individuals were being asked to pay money in exchange for securing government jobs. The case triggered political uproar, with claims linking a minister and a senior IAS officer, leading to multiple FIRs, suspension of several government staff, and widespread public outrage.
Naik, against whom several cases have been registered at police stations including Madkai, Ponda, Divar, and Porvorim, had earlier claimed she was being coerced into agreeing to the narco test.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had ordered a comprehensive investigation into the scandal, following which the Crime Branch intensified its efforts, including pursuing the controversial narco-analysis procedure. However, as per legal provisions and Supreme Court rulings, such tests cannot be conducted without the consent of the individual concerned.
With the Crime Branch now seeking judicial intervention, the JMFC court’s ruling will be pivotal in deciding the next course of action in the probe. The decision is expected to significantly influence the direction of the investigation into one of Goa’s most prominent recruitment scams.
