Bhubaneswar/Keonjhar
In a startling incident that underscores the challenges faced by rural and tribal communities in accessing formal banking systems, a 50-year-old man in Odisha’s Keonjhar district exhumed his deceased sister’s remains and carried the skeleton to a bank to prove her death and withdraw money from her account.
The incident took place on Monday at the Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank in Patana block. The man, identified as Jeetu Munda of Dianali village, had been attempting to withdraw Rs 19, 300 from the account of his elder sister, Kalra Munda, who passed away on January 26, 2026.
According to Jeetu, repeated visits to the bank yielded no results. He claimed that bank staff insisted on the presence of the account holder to process the withdrawal. Despite informing them about his sister’s death, he alleged that his pleas were not taken into consideration. Frustrated and unable to navigate the procedural requirements, Jeetu took the extreme step of digging up his sister’s grave and bringing her skeletal remains to the bank as evidence.
Speaking to reporters, Jeetu said he was unaware of legal procedures such as nomination or claiming funds as a legal heir. His lack of literacy and understanding of banking norms compounded the situation, leaving him with few perceived options.
The incident drew immediate attention, prompting the intervention of local police. Patana Police Station Inspector-in-Charge Kiran Prasad Sahu stated that Jeetu’s actions were driven by ignorance rather than intent to create disturbance. He noted that the man had not been adequately guided about the correct process for accessing funds from a deceased person’s account.
“The man did not understand the concept of a nominee or legal heir. There appears to have been a communication gap from the bank’s side in explaining the procedure,” the officer said.
Bank officials said that procedures for withdrawal in the case of a deceased account holder require proper documentation, including proof of death and verification of nominee or legal heir.
Following the incident, police officials assured Jeetu that they would assist him in completing the necessary formalities to withdraw the money lawfully. The skeletal remains were subsequently reburied at the village graveyard in the presence of police personnel, restoring a degree of normalcy after the shocking episode.
Local administration has also taken note of the matter. Block Development Officer Manas Dandpat said that no prior request had been made regarding the legal heir certification for the deceased. He added that officials would now look into the issue and extend support to ensure that due process is followed and the rightful claimant receives the funds.
The Indian Overseas Bank took to X to state: “The individual who was in an inebriated condition became disruptive and later returned with human remains, reportedly exhumed after being buried a few days earlier, placing them in front of the branch and claiming it to be his sister while demanding withdrawal from her account. This created a highly distressing situation at the premises. Local police authorities were immediately informed, and the matter was handled under their supervision.”
