Sulakshana Sawant, the wife of Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, has filed a defamation case worth ₹100 crore against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh. She claims that Singh wrongly connected her to a "Cash for Jobs scam" in Goa. This legal action was taken in the Civil Judge Senior Division Court in Bicholim, Goa, after Singh made these comments during a press conference earlier this month.

In a statement issued with the lawsuit, it was claimed that Sanjay Singh accused Sulakshana Sawant of being involved in corrupt activities related to the "Cash for Jobs Scam." These accusations were broadcast live on many national and regional news channels and were shared widely on social media platforms like YouTube. The lawsuit says that these harmful statements were made without any reliable proof, and the false claims became even worse as they spread widely across public platforms.

Impact on reputation

Sulakshana Sawant's defamation suit argues that Singh's accusations severely harmed her reputation and integrity. "The defamation occurred during a press conference where Sanjay Singh made direct accusations against Sulakshana Sawant's integrity and her involvement in the scam, thereby damaging her reputation," said an official press note. The suit points out that these damaging claims not only hurt Sawant's reputation but were also spread widely, making the accusations appear believable.

In her legal action, Sawant is asking for ₹100 crore in damages because of the harm caused by Singh's statements. She also wants a permanent court order to stop Singh and his associates from making any more harmful comments, videos, or articles about her. The legal document also asks Singh to apologise publicly and correct the false claims he made about her.

Sulakshana Sawant has also asked the court for an order to stop any further harmful actions during the legal case. She has requested that the court pay for the costs of the case and provide any other help or relief that is needed.

Controversial cash for jobs scam

Sulakshana Sawant has also asked the court for an order to stop any further harmful actions during the legal case. She has requested that the court pay for the costs of the case and provide any other help or relief that is needed.

Sanjay Singh said that the alleged job scam was not just about bribery but included many people, such as the family members of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. "This is not a small issue—it is a massive job scam involving corruption and bribery in Goa, with direct involvement from the Chief Minister and his ministers. The names of the chief minister's wife and various brokers have been revealed," said Singh.

Singh also mentioned comments made by the former Governor of Goa, Satyapal Malik, who reportedly said that Sulakshana Sawant was involved in accepting bribes while pretending to offer jobs. Singh stated, "This clearly indicates that the Chief Minister of Goa and his entire family are involved in accepting bribes under the pretence of offering jobs."

Investigations

In response to these serious claims, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that the state police are investigating the alleged "Cash for Jobs Scam" thoroughly and transparently. Many people in Goa have said they were asked to pay money for job opportunities in the government, which led to the investigation.

As the defamation lawsuit continues, Sulakshana Sawant is seeking both justice for the harm caused by the false claims and legal actions to stop further damage. With the case in court, the legal process will likely bring more attention to the bigger corruption issues in Goa and the ongoing investigation.