Bhagalpur: The Bhagalpur administration is set to lodge a fresh FIR against the district welfare officer and others in connection with fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 127 crore from government accounts.

The transfer from the district welfare officer's account to that of Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti Ltd in Sabour was detected during an audit. A team from the accountant-general's office in Patna conducted the audit on the recommendation of Bhagalpur DM Adesh Titarmare.

Two FIRs had earlier been lodged over illegal transfer of Rs 121 crore from the welfare department to NGO Srijan's accounts. With the fresh case, the total amount embezzled from the department touches Rs 248 crore. "We are in the process of lodging a fresh FIR on the basis of the audit report," said a senior official on condition of anonymity.

Sunil Kumar Sharma, officiating as district welfare officer, was unavailable for comment. The transactions are between 2007 and 2017, so the role of former district welfare officer Arun Kumar is also under the probe team's scanner.