Panjim, November 13, 2025:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa has strongly criticized the BJP-led state government over the alleged Cash-for-Jobs scam, accusing Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and his administration of concealing the actual extent of the fraud and misleading the public.
Addressing the media, AAP Working President and National Spokesperson Valmiki Naik alleged that the government was deliberately hiding facts and manipulating the investigation.
Naik pointed out that in response to an LAQ raised by AAP MLA Engr. Cruz Silva in March 2025, the government had admitted that the total amount involved in the registered FIRs related to the scam was ₹9.25 crore. However, Naik noted that one of the accused, Pooja Naik, has herself claimed to have paid ₹17.68 crore to two government officials between 2019 and 2022.
“She is just one accused among 45 FIRs filed in connection with this scam. If her statement is true, the total amount involved is far higher than what the government has revealed. Why is the Sawant Sarkar hiding the true scale of this scam despite ongoing investigations for nearly a year?” Naik questioned.
Naik further accused the Chief Minister of misusing the police machinery for media management, stating that a new FIR cannot be filed in an existing case without new evidence or circumstances.
“Pooja Naik has already named the minister and officials in her original statement. So what fresh evidence does the CM have that warrants a second FIR in the same matter? And why does the police need more time?” he asked.
Drawing a comparison to previous private job scams, Naik said, “Earlier, job scams involved private agents duping unemployed youth. Today, it’s a national shame that our own government ministers and officials are accused of similar acts—leaving our youth without both jobs and money.”
AAP has demanded the immediate sacking of the named minister and officials allegedly involved in the scandal and has called for a time-bound judicial inquiry to ensure transparency and justice.
