Darbhanga, Jan. 22: A middleman, Gulam Haidar Ansari Rabani, was arrested for allegedly leaking information about a surprise inspection supposed to be conducted by state social welfare minister Parveen Amanullah yesterday.

Rabani, a resident of Bahera, has been accused of disrupting government work and passing information to anganwadi centres, where the sudden inspection was to be carried out by Amanullah.

Sources said Rabani was seen in the car of Benipur block circle officer Sanjay Mishra yesterday. He had allegedly passed on the information to the nearest anganwadi centres about the raid. The circle officer had taken the charge of child development programme officer Rooma Kumari, who is on leave. The sources added that the circle officer was being questioned on why Rabani got into his car and his connection with the accused.

Darbhanga superintendent of police Kumar Aikley told The Telegraph: “A case has been registered against Rabani at the Bahera police station for disrupting government work. He was passing information about the surprise inspection at Benipur block at several anganwadi centres. Rabani was sent to Darbhanga jail today. We have not registered any case against the circle officer so far, who is said to have extended help to Rabani. The minister, however, has asked to lodge an FIR against the circle officer.”

After the raid, Amanullah said: “I conducted surprise raids at seven anganwadi centres. During inspection, we found several irregularities and dismissed six sevikas. We found fewer children than the number mentioned in the registers of some centres. In other centres the meal was of poor quality.”