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Panaji: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started an investigation in connection with the alleged cash-for-jobs scam in Goa under the provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention Act (PMLA). The ED has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) to probe the job scam.
The ED has requested information Goa Police in connection with the cases registered at various police stations. Goa police registered more than 33 cases related to the cash-for-job scam. These include more than 20 FIRs in North Goa and more than 13 in South. Police have so far ruled out any political link to the scam or its operation through organized extortion.
Research has revealed that people have been cheated on the lure of government jobs since 2014-15. Since the first case was reported by the Mardol police station in October, most of the cases have been registered against women.
The scam, which spread across half the state’s talukas and recorded an average of one case a day, first came to light when Pooja Naik, a resident of Old Goa, was accused of duping several people in Goa have cheated them of millions of rupees on the pretext of providing them with government money. jobs. Subsequently, Deepashree Gawas alias Deepashree Prashant Mhato, Priya Yadav, Sunita Shashikant Pawaskar, Shruti Prabhugaonkar and Uma Patil also saw cases filed against them.
Shortly after Naik was arrested, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant issued a stern warning to politicians and government employees that his government would take strict action if any of them were found to be involved in the job scam.
Police said some persons accused in the scam had duped over 300 people of crores, promising to get them jobs in various government departments, including public works, water resources, education, transport, revenue, police and healthcare. More than 21 people were arrested even as the scam spread to six of Goa’s 12 talukas: Bicholim, Bardez, Tiswadi, Ponda, Mormugao and Canacona.
From police personnel to senior government officials and from teachers to individuals claiming strong political links, Goa police made arrests in separate incidents. Investigations revealed that the victims were either known to the suspect or had relatives who were seeking permanent government jobs for their relatives. Although they believed this would lead to a secure future, they ultimately lost their savings, even as the suspects used the money to pursue their own lavish lifestyles by purchasing gold jewelry and luxury cars.
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