Patna, Oct 26 (IANS): The head of a children's orphanage in Bihar's Vaishali district was arrested Saturday, three days after a child died and 10 fell ill after eating contaminated food, officials said.

Pradyuman Kumar, head of Lok Seva Ashram, an orphanage in village Chakwaja, was arrested when police raided his residence and found five girls.

According to police officials, some children alleged sexual exploitation by Pradyuman.

"Police interrogated Pradyuman in connection with death of one child and those who fell ill after eating food," district official Chandrasekhar Singh said.

A preliminary inquiry showed that ashram authorities regularly served poor quality food to the children. "The police have begun a probe into the incident," an official said.

On July 16, 23 students died and dozens fell ill at a government primary school in Dharmashati Gandaman village of Saran district in Bihar after eating contaminated midday meal.