Ranchi, March 7: Jharkhand High Court directed the state government today to file an affidavit to explain the embezzlement of funds in the child development project in Seraikela Kharsawan district.

The division bench of the high court was perturbed by the swindling of money to the tune of Rs 18 lakh as alleged in a public interest litigation filed against the government.

The petitioner, Ram Nath Mahto, said that the state-run child development project in Seraikela-Kharsawan district was completely neglected and officials of the department were not doing their work diligently.

Mahto also alleged foul play by the officials who had siphoned money sanctioned for welfare activities of children.

Mahto has further said that Rs 18 lakh allocated for various welfare programmes meant for children in Seraikela-Kharsawan district was released illegally by department officials.

A complaint was earlier made to the Seraikela-Kharsawan deputy commissioner which was not looked into by the authorities, leading Mahto to file a petition before the court.

The bench was further informed that auditing of the accounts under the project had also revealed that Rs 18 lakh was unaccounted and was released illegally.

The audit report has confirmed the allegations of the petitioner and the role of insiders in swindling funds.

The court, after hearing the petition, also ordered the government to file a detailed status report of the action initiated against the perpetrators.