In a bizzare incident, a 'pooja' was found performed inside the state-run civil services academy here on Thursday night, apparently on behalf of a senior official of the institute to surmount hard times he had been passing through.

State education and culture minister visited the premises and ordered a probe into the incident after he was informed of the ritual being performed in the premises.

As the minister came to the spot what greeted him was a bell-metal lamp, bunches of plantain, flowers and other articles used for poojas and rituials in one of the rooms of the academy.

"Certain unusual things have happened. The director of the academy has been asked to probe and submit a report urgently," the minister said.