Bagalkot DHO suspended days after daughter caught in govt PG course scam

And Namma Clinic, an initiative offering affordable healthcare services in urban centers across Karnataka. Bagalkot DHO Rajkumar Yaragal’s daughter Ankita was caught working in a government establishment when she enrolled in a full-time PG medical course. | Photo credit: File photo

The Karnataka government has issued an order suspending Rajkumar Yaragal, District Health and Family Officer, Bagalkot, on charges of negligence and dereliction of duty. The doctor is the brother-in-law of Congress MLA Umesh Meti.

Gurudatt Hegde, health and family commissioner, issued the order based on a preliminary inquiry report submitted by zilla panchayat general manager Gajanan Bale.

According to the report, Dr. Occasionally caught in his office during office hours, Yaragal violated some rules in the Karnataka Civil Service Rules, was indifferent to people’s problems and was negligent in implementing government projects and schemes.

Dr. Yaragal is facing allegations that he allowed his daughter Ankita Yaragal to draw the salary of a contract health worker at the Namma Clinic in Bagalkot while he was enrolled as a full-time postgraduate student at a private medical college.

The commissioner’s letter mentioned media reports that DHO had allowed Dr. Ankita to sign a list at a government clinic while she attends a full-time postgraduate course.

Dr. Ankita is the niece of Congress MLA Umesh Meti.

Published – 18 Sep 2026 12:56 IST