Shocking images have gone viral showing a man carrying his sister’s skeletal remains on his shoulders to a bank in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, reportedly in an effort to withdraw money from her account an act he claims was prompted by repeated refusals and growing frustration.
The episode occurred on April 27 at the Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank in the Patana block. The man, identified as 50-year-old Jeetu Munda from Dianali village, had been attempting to withdraw ₹20,000 from the bank account of his elder sister, 56-year-old Kalra Munda, who passed away on January 26 this year.
Jeetu’s sister had moved back to her parental home after the deaths of her husband and only son, .She had opened a savings account at the local branch and regularly deposited money into it before passing away about two months ago. Following her death, the family performed her last rites and buried her near their home in Dianali village.
Man on why he carried the skeletal remains to bank
In the following weeks, Jeetu went to the bank with her passbook to withdraw funds from the account. Explaining why he had brought his sister’s skeletal remains, he said he had attempted to notify bank staff of her death, but they insisted she be brought to the branch in person.
I went to the bank several times, and the staff there kept telling me I had to bring the account holder in person to withdraw the money deposited in her name. Even though I informed them that she had died, they refused to believe me and insisted I bring her to the bank. Finally, out of sheer frustration, I dug up her grave and brought her skeleton as proof of her death, illiterate Jeetu Munda told reporters.
Odisha minister on measures against bank officials
Expressing strong displeasure, Odisha minister Suresh Pujari said, "I have spoken to the administration about this. Action must be taken against the bank employees for their inhuman conduct. I will direct the senior bank officials not to treat this as an isolated incident and to punish those responsible," he stated.
“The bank staff did not consider the person’s death certificate sufficient, forcing the man to exhume his deceased sister’s remains. An incident of this nature has never occurred in India. The government has taken serious note of the bank employees’ conduct and will raise the issue at the appropriate level to ensure that those responsible are punished,” Pujari added.
Sub-Collector Uma Shankar Dalai stated that the man did not know the necessary legal procedures and acted in frustration. Officials pointed out that he is not a Class-I legal heir, which is why the bank requested documents he was unable to furnish, ANI reported.
According to a PTI report, Patana Police Station Inspector-in-Charge Kiran Prasad Sahu, who arrived at the bank after being informed, stated that Jeetu is an illiterate tribal man who does not understand the concept of a legal heir or nominee, and that bank officials failed to properly explain the procedure for withdrawing funds from the deceased person's account.
Police assures man of further help
After the incident, police assured Jeetu Munda that they would assist with the withdrawal process. The skeletal remains were subsequently reinterred in the graveyard in the presence of police officers.
Meanwhile, local Block Development Officer Manas Dandpat stated that no one had contacted his office to obtain a legal heir certificate. "I only learned about this today. We will look into what can be done to address the matter," he said.
Bank officials reported that the nominee registered on Kalra Munda’s account is also deceased, leaving Jeetu Munda as the only person entitled to the funds. The local administration has instructed the bank to release the money to him in accordance with regulations as soon as possible.