Bamboo poles, used to erect a shamiana, lie in front of Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Ranchi on Thursday and (above) a bruised bed of grass on the premises. (Hardeep Singh)

Ranchi, May 19: A knotty affair has kicked up a fuss over Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Morabadi.

The state sports department is mulling departmental proceedings against Ranchi district sports officer Dal Singar Ram who misused the world-class soccer infrastructure to host the wedding reception of his son last evening.

According to Sports Authority of Jharkhand (SAJ) guidelines, no stadium in Hotwar or Morabadi can be used for social or political functions.

However, Ram, who is the maintenance authority of the stadium premises, not just mutilated the lush green front lawn to erect a shamiana for the reception, he also let out rooms meant for players to house a section of the total 400 wedding guests.

Some rooms even served as kitchens complete with giant, soot-spewing ovens.

Those who attended the party said the main lawn of the stadium was used to erect a big pandal. In the process, the carpet of carefully manicured grass and even some plants were destroyed. The players’ rooms that doubled up as kitchens are understandably in a greater mess.

“Ram misused his official position. He could have thrown the party at a hotel,” said one of his colleagues in the sports department.

Interestingly, the who’s who of the sports, administrative and police circuit were sent invitation cards a week ago, but no one apparently noticed that the choice of venue was in gross violation of the SAJ guidelines. The guest list included former sports director P.C. Mishra, IG Anurag Gupta and Ranchi sub-divisional officer Shekhar Jamuar.

“We are aware of the guidelines, but it was not the right occasion to point out the mistake,” a government official said, requesting anonymity.

Deputy secretary, sports, Alois Lakra confirmed that Ram would face departmental proceedings.

“He will first be served a showcause notice. He did not take any special permission before throwing a party for his son’s marriage. In fact, no one is given permission to host a social function at a stadium these days,” Lakra said.

He said sports secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh was in Delhi and a decision would be taken as soon as he returned.

Speaking to The Telegraph over phone from Delhi, the sports secretary said: “Let me come back to Ranchi and get informed about things. I will take appropriate action.”

Ram remained incommunicado. While his cellphone remained switched off through the day, his whereabouts were not known to his aides.

Boasting a seating capacity of over 30,000, the classy Birsa Munda Football Stadium had hosted soccer and rugby events during the 34th National Games in February.