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Jeetu Munda, 50, a resident of Dianali village, had been trying to withdraw ₹20,000 from the account of his elder sister, Kalra Munda, 56, who passed away on January 25 this year.
Bank asks for account holder; Odisha man brings sister’s skeletal remains.Disturbing scenes have emerged from Odisha’s Keonjhar district, where a man carried his deceased sister’s skeletal remains to a bank after repeated attempts to access her savings were unsuccessful. The incident occurred on April 27 at the Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank in the Patana block.
Jeetu Munda, 50, a resident of Dianali village, had been trying to withdraw ₹20,000 from the account of his elder sister, Kalra Munda, 56, who passed away on January 25 this year.
Following the deaths of her husband and only son, Kalra had returned to her parental home, where she maintained a savings account and regularly deposited money. After her death nearly two months ago, the family performed her last rites and buried her close to their home.
Frustration led to extreme step
In the weeks after her passing, Jeetu visited the bank multiple times with her passbook, seeking to withdraw funds. He claimed officials refused his request and allegedly asked him to produce the account holder in person.
Explaining his actions, Jeetu said: "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. Though I told them that she had died, they did not listen to me and insisted on bringing her to the bank. Therefore, out of frustration, I dug the grave and brought out her skeleton as proof of her death,"
Government orders action against bank staff
Odisha minister Suresh Pujari strongly condemned the incident and said action would be taken against those responsible.
“I have talked to the administration regarding this. Action needs to be taken against the bank employees for this inhuman approach. I will instruct the senior officials at the bank not to treat this as an isolated case and punish the accused,” he said.
He further added, “The death certificate of the person wasn't enough for the bank employees, which compelled the man to dig out his dead sister's remains. Such an incident has never happened in India. The government has taken serious note of the conduct of the bank employees and will take up the matter at the appropriate level to ensure that the accused are punished.”
Warning: Visuals may be disturbing for some
Lack of awareness about legal process
According to Sub-Collector Uma Shankar Dalai, the man was unaware of the legal procedures required to access the funds and acted out of frustration. Officials clarified that Jeetu is not a Class-I legal heir, which is why the bank had requested documents he could not provide.
Patana Police Station Inspector-in-Charge Kiran Prasad Sahu said:
"Jeetu is an illiterate tribal man. He does not know what the legal heir or nominee is. The bank officials have failed to make him understand the procedure to withdraw money from the dead person's account",
Authorities step in to resolve the matter
Police later intervened and assured Jeetu that assistance would be provided to complete the withdrawal process. The skeletal remains were subsequently reburied in the presence of officials.
Block Development Officer Manas Dandpat stated that his office had not been approached earlier for legal heir certification but confirmed that steps would now be taken to resolve the issue.
Bank sources indicated that the nominee on the account had also died, leaving Jeetu as the only claimant. The local administration has directed the bank to ensure that the funds are released to him in accordance with the rules at the earliest.
(With inputs from news agencies)
About the Author
Kanishka Singharia
Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. <br><br> With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. <br><br> She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes. <br><br> Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.
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