Bagalkot DHO suspended days after daughter caught in government job-PG course scam

A Namma Clinic, which is an initiative to offer affordable healthcare services in urban centres across Karnataka. Bagalkot DHO Rajkumar Yaragal’s daughter Ankita was caught working in the government-run facility while enrolled in a full-time PG medical course. | Photo Credit: File photo The government of Karnataka has issued an order suspending Rajkumar Yaragal, District Health and Family Welfare Officer, Bagalkot, on the charges of negligence and dereliction of duty. The doctor is the brother-in-law of Congress MLA Umesh Meti.Gurudatt Hegde, Commissioner, Health and Family Welfare Department, issued the order based on a preliminary inquiry report submitted by zilla panchayat CEO Gajanan Bale.According to the report, Dr. Yaragal was not found in his office during office hours at times, violated some rules in the Karnataka civil services rules, was indifferent to the problems of the people, and was negligent in implementing government projects and programmes.Dr. Yaragal faces allegations of allowing his daughter, Ankita Yaragal, to receive the salary of a contractual health officer in the Namma Clinic in Bagalkot while being enrolled as a full-time post-graduate student in a private medical College.The Commissioner's letter mentioned media reports about the DHO allowing Dr. Ankita to sign the muster in the government clinic while attending a full-time post-graduate course.Dr. Ankita is the niece of Congress MLA Umesh Meti. Published - September 18, 2026 12:56 pm IST