Jamshedpur, Sept. 12: A five-member committee constituted by the Ranchi University today began its probe against Shukla Mahanty, former principal of Jamshedpur Women?s College, in matters related to Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) courses and various other complaints.

The committee headed by the university?s dean for social sciences, S.K. Sinha, reached the college around 2 pm. He was accompanied by students? welfare dean Victor Tigga, Doranda College principal and secretary of Ranchi University Principal?s Association Ram Pravesh and director of Ranchi University?s department of journalism Rita Shukla. The university?s finance officer, S.K. Prasad, another member of the team, could not turn up due to his father?s illness.

The probe team said they are looking into the details of students? admission in B.Ed curriculum in two colleges ?Jamshedpur Women?s College and Graduate School College for Women. The B.Ed classes in both the colleges kicked off in January this year under the supervision of Mahanty. The university had appointed her the coordinator of B.Ed education.

?We have collected the necessary details. However, more details are awaited. We would submit our findings within a fortnight,? said Tigga, who is also the B.Ed in-charge of the university.

The probe team was busy collecting the documents of individual students for B.Ed admission but had failed to conduct an inquiry into the allegation that cheques were signed without appropriate authority at the Graduate School College for Women soon after Mahanty relinquished the charge of principal last year.

Moreover, the team also did not probe the recent theft of documents related to accounts at the Jamshedpur Women?s College and the ongoing spat between the vice-chancellor and Mahanty. Soon after their arrival in the city around 11.15 am, three members of the probe team ? Sinha, Tigga and Pravesh ? proceeded to the residence of S.S. Razi, principal of Jamshedpur Worker?s College, while Mahanty went to the college. Razi was asked by the university to take care of the team.

Sinha has refused to comment anything about the probe. ?I am not in a position to say anything at this juncture,? she said.