Baidyanath Ram at the janata durbar in Ranchi on Tuesday. (Hardeep Singh)

Ranchi, June 21: Human resource development minister Baidyanath Ram today directed his department’s secretary Mirdula Sinha to conduct a probe into alleged misuse of funds during a daylong workshop on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Giridih.

Sinha will also try to find out whether Giridh deputy commissioner Vandana Dadel violated protocol while presiding over the function held on March 29.

The orders came at a janata durbar at the state BJP headquarters today after the party’s Giridih district unit chief Vinay Kumar Sharma lodged a complaint with Ram.

Sharma claimed that over Rs 1.70 crore had been spent on organising the daylong workshop and that special treatment was given to Dadel.

“Not to speak of bouquets and garlands, flowers were laid all along Dadel’s way to the dais. Even the President and the Prime Minister are not accorded such ‘warm receptions’ at public functions. She even accepted mementoes while prominent public representatives present on the occasion were ignored,” he said.

The BJP leader also demanded a written reply from Ram on actions being taken on the basis of his complaint. “Today, the BJP does not have a single representative in the Vidhan Sabha from Giridih. If the poor show is repeated at the next Assembly elections, the party high command will seek explanations from me. I will show your letter to the party workers and tell them that our complaints have been taken seriously by the state government and ask them to work hard,” he added.

Ram also promised the delegates of Chayanit Daroga Pratiyogi Chhatra Sangh that he would talk to the chief minister about early conduct of their written exams. These candidates had passed their physical tests about four years ago, but the written exams are yet to be held. Many of them are on the verge of crossing the upper age limit soon. They wanted Ram to immediately take up the matter with state director-general of police. They added that they had once met the chief minister, but he said the government had already done its job.