A massive controversy has erupted within the healthcare sector in Karnataka after a glaring case of privilege and administrative manipulation came to light. In Bagalkot district, a medical officer was found drawing a hefty monthly government salary without stepping foot inside her assigned clinic for months. The arrangement allowed the doctor to pursue higher studies elsewhere while public funds were siphoned off, triggering widespread outrage and swift punitive action from local authorities.
The Ghost Doctor at Namma Clinic
Dr. Ankita R Yaragal was appointed as a contractual medical officer at the Namma Clinic located in the Vambey Colony of Bagalkot in April 2025. Things proceeded normally until March of this year, when she enrolled in a private college to pursue an MD in pathology without resigning from her government posting. According to local activists, the doctor had not visited the clinic for months, leaving patients to fend for themselves while nurses managed the entire facility. Despite rendering zero hours of service, she continued to pocket a fixed monthly salary of 75,000 rupees.
Surprise Inspection Exposes the Fraud
The scam unraveled when Bagalkot Taluk Health Officer Dr. Saraswati Magi paid a surprise visit to the facility and found the on-duty doctor missing. When contacted over the phone, Dr. Ankita nonchalantly claimed she was out of station. However, patients waiting at the clinic directly complained to the visiting officer that the doctor had been absent for the past three months. Despite her continuous absence, attendance registers were meticulously marked, ensuring that taxpayer money kept flowing into her account while ordinary citizens were denied basic medical care.
Political Connections and Official Action
Local activist Raju Naik alleged that the accused doctor benefited from her familial ties, as her father Dr. Rajkumar Yaragal serves as the District Health Officer. Leveraging political connections and official clout allegedly helped shield the irregularities for months. Once the matter gained traction, Bagalkot Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Gajanan Bale took strict cognizance and ordered the immediate termination of Dr. Ankita's services. In his defense, her father claimed the appointment predated his tenure and that he had withheld her salary after taking charge, though MLA Umesh Meeti and the accused doctor chose to maintain silence over the entire controversy.
