BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra alleges large scale corruption in health check up scheme for construction workers, demands CBI probe

Former minister and Tirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra has alleged a large-scale scam in the preventive health check-up scheme for construction workers, including the transfer of huge funds to other states. He has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and the arrest of all those involved.

Addressing a press conference in Shivamogga on Wednesday (October 7, 2026), Mr. Jnanendra said the Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board had, according to its records, conducted preventive health check-ups for more than 27.13 lakh people, including workers and their family members, over the last three years. At ₹2,950 per person, the board spent over ₹799 crore on the scheme.

“The board, which functions under the Labour Department, awarded the work to eight agencies across the State without a tender process. In Shivamogga alone, the records show that the agencies screened over 1 lakh people at a cost of nearly ₹30 crore,” he said.

No camps, no receipts

The BJP leader said the expenditure details obtained under the Right to Information Act point fingers at irregularities. “The board has created records of health check-up camps, though it hardly conducted any. As per the norm, Labour Department officers conduct such camps and invite local elected representatives. I have not been informed of any such event in my constituency in the last three years,” he said.

He alleged that in some cases, payments made to the agencies for the camps were cleared from places such as Delhi and Kerala. “Who received this money? This is another scam, similar to the one at the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation,” he said.

Mr. Jnanendra said that under the conditions, the agencies were required to conduct 20 major check-ups, covering the heart, kidney and liver, besides 60 secondary tests. “There are no records to support the purchase of testing kits. Going by the number of people covered, the agencies should have procured truckloads of kits, but they have neither data nor purchase receipts,” he alleged.

He also alleged irregularities in the third-party inspection. Doctors designated to visit the camps and certify that the check-ups were done as per the conditions had issued false certificates without verifying any records, he said.

Senior officials involved

Claiming that several senior Labour Department officials were involved, Mr. Jnanendra said a scam of this scale could not have been carried out without the active participation of the Minister concerned. “I demand a probe by either the CBI or the Enforcement Directorate to bring out the truth. All those involved in looting money meant for the welfare of poor construction workers should be put behind bars,” he said.

Former minister Hartal Harappa, former MLC R.K. Siddaramanna and BJP leader Heddur Naveen were present at the press conference.