By Sabiu Abdullahi
A man in eastern India has triggered widespread anger after he carried the skeletal remains of his late sister to a bank in an attempt to prove that she had died and access her savings.
The incident involved Jitu Munda, 52, from Odisha state. A video showing him taking the remains to a bank branch surfaced online this week and quickly went viral. The development drew strong reactions across the country.
Munda explained that he took the drastic step after several failed attempts to withdraw money belonging to his sister, Kalara, who died earlier this year at the age of 56. He said bank officials repeatedly demanded proof of her death before releasing the funds.
“When the bank manager refused to listen and kept asking for proof, I got frustrated,” he said. “I brought the skeleton to show that she had died.”
Police confirmed that Munda dug up his sister’s remains and transported them to the bank premises. The incident occurred on Monday in Keonjhar district.
In response, the bank rejected claims that it asked him to present the physical remains of the deceased. Officials stated that only standard legal documents were required to process the request. They added that the situation appeared to result from a misunderstanding of procedures. The bank also said the funds have now been released to the rightful beneficiaries.
The case attracted national attention. Many observers criticised both local authorities and the bank for not offering adequate guidance to the man. Others pointed to the bureaucratic challenges families face when trying to access a deceased relative’s funds, especially in rural communities.
Under Indian law, if a person dies without naming a nominee on their bank account, relatives must present documents such as a death certificate and proof of legal heirship. This process can be slow in remote areas where access to documentation is limited.
The bank further alleged that Munda initially arrived in an “inebriated state” and caused a disturbance before returning later with the remains. It described the situation as “distressing”.
Branch manager Sushant Kumar Sethi said Munda first claimed his sister was paralysed and unable to visit the bank. According to him, staff had offered to visit her at home. He added that Munda later reported her death and had not visited the branch in the past two months. He also noted that other legal heirs had come forward, which prompted officials to request proper documentation.
Authorities have since stepped in to resolve the matter. Police and local officials persuaded Munda to return the remains to the burial site and assured him that his concerns would be addressed.
Odisha’s Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said the case is under investigation and that action will be taken against the branch manager over alleged misconduct. The Keonjhar district administration also expressed “deep concern” and stressed that safeguarding citizens’ rights and dignity remains a priority.
Officials later issued the necessary death certificate and documents confirming legal heirs. The bank confirmed that the money has now been handed over to the family. Munda has also been offered financial assistance of 30,000 rupees.
