Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Nov 10: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa has questioned the delay in tracing Ajit Shankhwalkar, the prime accused in an alleged Rs 52 lakh government job fraud involving a forged appointment letter bearing Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's signature.
AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik, accompanied by other party leaders, visited the Panaji Police Station on Tuesday and submitted a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking details of the investigation.
The case came to light on October 9, when Manoj Talekar allegedly approached the office of the Excise Commissioner with an appointment letter purportedly bearing the Chief Minister's signature, claiming that he had been appointed as Additional Commissioner of Excise-I. Talekar reportedly occupied the office and began functioning in the position before officials became suspicious and initiated an inquiry. During questioning, he allegedly disclosed that he had paid Rs 52 lakh to Shankhwalkar to secure the appointment.
Questioning why the prime accused remained untraced more than a month after the incident, Naik alleged that Shankhwalkar had influential political connections and was receiving protection.
"What kind of magic does he possess that he has managed to evade the entire police force of Goa?" Naik asked, referring to photographs of Shankhwalkar with senior police officers and individuals associated with the BJP.
Naik said two FIRs had been registered in connection with the case. The first was filed by the Excise Department over the alleged attempt to commit fraud using the appointment letter, while the second followed a complaint by Talekar's family.
"More than 30 days have elapsed with zero updates in a sensational case where someone walked into a government office with a CM's forged letter and started working," he said.
Through the RTI application, AAP has sought certified copies of both FIRs, details of the legal provisions invoked and copies of the daily case diaries recording the investigation over the past month. The party has also requested details of locations visited by investigating officers, individuals questioned and whether police personnel photographed with Shankhwalkar have been summoned or questioned.
The application further seeks information on phone numbers placed under surveillance, electronic surveillance measures adopted, residential addresses searched or raided, and whether the allegedly forged appointment letter has been sent for forensic examination. AAP has also sought details of the evidence collected so far.
Pointing out that both the Excise and Home departments function under the Chief Minister, Naik demanded that Sawant explain the delay in tracing the accused.
"The Chief Minister must explain who this person, Ajit Shankhwalkar, is in relation to his administration. Why have the police failed to trace him for an entire month?" he asked.
Naik alleged that the delay raised questions about possible political pressure on investigating agencies and whether there were instructions to go easy on the accused. He also questioned the effectiveness of the reported lookout notice, noting that Shankhwalkar had not been arrested despite the passage of more than a month.
"If the Goa Police force were given a completely free hand, they could track down and apprehend such an individual from anywhere in India within a single week," Naik claimed.
Asked whose position could be affected if Shankhwalkar was arrested, Naik reiterated that the Chief Minister, being in charge of both the Excise and Home departments, must take responsibility and provide answers. He further alleged that the arrest could expose connections at higher levels of the government.
During the interaction, Naik also referred to a separate alleged recruitment fraud in Cuncolim, where a case has reportedly been registered over the alleged sale of a government primary school teacher's post for Rs 12 lakh. He claimed that money had been collected from an individual on the promise of securing the government job, after which the accused allegedly absconded.
"Anyone is extorting money in anyone's name for government posts. That is the current state of affairs in Goa," Naik alleged.
Drawing a comparison with Punjab, Naik claimed that the Bhagwant Mann government had provided 70,000 government jobs since 2022 without charging applicants any money. He also questioned whether disciplinary action would be initiated against senior police officers whose photographs with Shankhwalkar had circulated publicly.
AAP said it would continue to pursue the matter and demanded transparency in the investigation and the immediate arrest of the prime accused.