A grieving tribal man’s desperate act has sparked outrage and scrutiny over banking procedures after officials allegedly demanded the presence of a deceased account holder.
A shocking incident in India’s eastern Odisha state has drawn widespread attention after a tribal man reportedly dug up his deceased sister’s remains and brought her skeleton to a bank to prove her death, following repeated demands from staff to produce the “account holder” for a withdrawal.
The case emerged from the Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank in Keonjhar district’s Patana block, where Jeetu Munda had been trying to withdraw ₹20,000 from his late sister Kalra Munda’s account. According to local reports, Kalra Munda had passed away on January 26, but her family continued to face hurdles in accessing the funds.
Jeetu Munda told local media that he made multiple visits to the bank but was repeatedly instructed to bring the account holder in person. Despite informing staff of his sister’s death, he said his explanation was dismissed, leaving him frustrated and desperate for a resolution.
“I have run several times to the bank, and the people there told me to bring the account holder to withdraw money deposited in her name,” he was quoted as saying. He added that after being unable to resolve the issue through formal communication, he resorted to exhuming her remains as proof.
The incident has raised serious questions about administrative awareness and communication gaps in rural banking systems, particularly in tribal and underdeveloped regions where financial literacy remains low.
Police officials have since intervened. Inspector-in-Charge Kiran Prasad Sahu of Patana Police Station said the situation highlighted a failure in properly explaining procedures to an illiterate customer. He noted that Jeetu Munda was unaware of legal heir documentation and nomination processes required to access a deceased person’s account.
Local administration officials, including the Block Development Officer, stated that they were only recently informed and assured that steps would be taken to resolve the matter and assist the family in withdrawing the funds lawfully.
Authorities have reportedly assured Jeetu Munda of assistance to complete the formalities and access the account legally. The incident has since triggered debate over banking accountability, rural outreach, and the need for clearer guidance in financial institutions serving vulnerable communities.
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