Ribandar: The Crime Branch on Sunday recorded the statement of cash-for-jobs scam accused Puja Naik after she claimed that a minister, an IAS officer, and an engineer were also involved with her in the racket.
Naik was arrested last year after a multi-crore cash-for-jobs scam hit the coastal state, where youth were allegedly fleeced with the promise of government jobs by middlemen. She was the first to be arrested by the police.
The accused, who is currently out on bail, had released a video on Friday claiming that she had accepted money from job aspirants at the behest of a minister, an IAS officer, and an engineer.
She did not name anyone in the video but claimed that the minister owes Rs 17 crore to be repaid to her, which she intended to return to the aspirants.
Following her statement, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday that the police would record Naik’s statement and investigate all the content thoroughly.
Sawant stated that strict action would be taken against those involved in the crime only after a thorough investigation.
Accordingly, the Crime Branch summoned Naik on Sunday evening to their office in Ribandar near Panaji.
Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta told GNH that her statement was recorded.
“The content of her statement is being examined,” he said. When asked whether a separate FIR has been filed in this connection, Gupta said that the course of action is yet to be decided.
