Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday assured strict action against those allegedly involved in duping a person by promising him a senior post in the state Excise Department. The Chief Minister appealed to citizens to remain cautious, noting that it was unfortunate that educated individuals were continuing to fall victim to such scams.
The incident came to light when a man identified as Manoj Talekar was detained on Thursday after arriving at the excise office carrying an appointment letter and stating he was there to assume charge as Additional Excise Commissioner. The position had recently opened up following the transfer of an IAS officer, Asvin Chandru.
The fraudulent scheme was uncovered after department staff grew suspicious of the paperwork and verified it with senior officials, who confirmed no such appointment had been authorized. Talekar subsequently informed law enforcement that an individual named Ajit Shankhwalkar had collected ₹27 lakh from him in exchange for the fabricated employment documents.
Local police have registered a case against Shankhwalkar and are actively searching for him. During their ongoing investigation, officers discovered that the suspect had also produced another document bearing a forged signature of Chief Minister Sawant to validate Talekar's hiring.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Sawant stated that he had directed law enforcement to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the recruitment fraud. He emphasized that nobody responsible would be spared from prosecution.
Commenting on the forgery of his signature, Sawant reiterated that authorities would take uncompromising action. He expressed concern that graduates, postgraduates, and even individuals with prior government work experience were being targeted and successfully duped by scammers.
Sawant further announced that the state administration intends to confiscate the properties of individuals tied to such illegal operations. He concluded with an appeal for the public to stay vigilant and thoroughly verify any suspicious communications or offers with the relevant government offices.