Goa cash-for-jobs scam: AAP seeks judicial probe; BJP says ED inquiry on
Panaji (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday demanded a judicial probe into the cash-for-jobs scam in Goa, claiming that an inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will not yield any result.
Goa BJP spokesperson Giriraj Pai Vernekar, however, said the opposition itself had demanded an ED inquiry which was now underway and there was nothing to hide.
The AAP leaders were targeting Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his family over the scam for "political reasons", he said, adding the first FIR in the matter was registered at the CM's behest.
The Goa police have arrested several persons in connection with the fraud wherein many people have been duped under the pretext of being provided government jobs.
Several complaints had been filed across Goa, with many government job aspirants alleging they were forced to pay lakhs of rupees to some persons under the pretext of facilitating employment.
CM Sawant had said an unbiased investigation was underway into the scam, with police apprehending several accused, who were luring youth to pay for getting government jobs.
Talking to reporters here, AAP Goa president Amit Palekar said media reports have claimed the ED has initiated an inquiry into the scam.
"I feel that the ED's inquiry will fetch no results as it is yet another agency of the BJP," he alleged.
Palekar alleged some BJP functionaries were involved in the scam, hence his party has demanded a judicial inquiry into it.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh also recently targeted the state BJP government over the scam.
Reacting to AAP's allegations of Sawant and his wife being involved in the scam, Vernekar challenged the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit and other opposition parties to come forward with "a single document linking the CM or his family to the cash-for-jobs scam."
It is laughable that they (AAP) are criticising others, Vernekar told PTI.
"Sanjay Singh has spent several months in jail. I was expecting him to be a little more responsible but he wasn't," he added.
Vernekar said the AAP leaders "have not been able to give a single proof of the involvement of CM or his family in the scam."
It is unfortunate to see the level of discourse and attack on the CM's family "only for political reasons," he said.
"I urge the opposition that if they have any proof of CM or his family's involvement, they should give it rather than making baseless allegations," he said.
Vernekar said if these attacks do not stop, then they will have to "explore all options".
"Now all lies being spoken about the involvement of BJP leaders would be exposed. The opposition has been demanding ED inquiry for a long time and it is now fulfilled," he said.
Once the investigation into the scam is over, it will be clear that individual men and women were defrauding the people, he said, asserting there was no involvement of any senior BJP leader.
"The investigation is on. As far as the government's intent of government is concerned, we have asked people (victims of the fraud) to come forward and lodge a case," he said.
After realising that some men and women were duping people, it was CM Sawant who asked police to start an investigation, Vernekar said.
The first FIR was filed at the behest of the chief minister and not the opposition or any victim, he said.
So far, 30 FIRs hve been registered and more than 25 persons arrested in connection with the case, Vernekar said.
"The accused have been arrested and it has only happened because the CM has been repeatedly appealing to the people of Goa that they should come forward and not let scamsters dupe them of their hard-earned money," he added.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
