NEW DELHI — In a scenario every credit union hopes to avoid, a man in eastern India exhumed his sister’s skeletal remains and carried them to a bank in a desperate attempt to prove her death and access her savings.
The incident in Odisha state’s Keonjhar district has sparked national outrage and drawn scrutiny of banking procedures and bureaucratic hurdles faced by rural families, according to the BBC.
Jitu Munda, 52, told BBC Hindi he took the remains to the bank after repeated attempts to withdraw money from his deceased sister’s account were unsuccessful because he could not provide official proof of death. Video of Munda carrying the remains in a sack and placing them outside the bank circulated widely on social media.
Police said Munda exhumed the body to bring it to the branch.
‘Lack of Awareness’ Cited
The bank, operated by Indian Overseas Bank through Odisha Grameen Bank, denied asking for physical proof of death. It said staff had requested legally required documents and attributed the incident to a lack of awareness of procedures. The bank also disputed parts of Munda’s account, alleging he had been disruptive during an earlier visit and had not followed the proper process, the BBC said.
The BBC reported that Munda said his sister, 56, had deposited about 19,300 rupees (about $200) shortly before her death earlier this year. Without a nominated beneficiary on the account, families must provide documents such as a death certificate and proof of legal heirship before funds can be released—a process that can be difficult in remote areas, according to the BBC.
Investigation Underway
Local officials said the case is under investigation. Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said action would be taken against the branch manager if wrongdoing is found, while district authorities expressed concern over the incident, according to the report.
The BBC said police and officials later persuaded Munda to return the remains to the burial site and assured him his request would be addressed. Authorities subsequently issued the required documents, and the bank said the funds have been released to the woman’s legal heirs.
