KEONJHAR, ODISHA, INDIA – APRIL 27, 2026 52-year-old man named Jitu (Jeetu) Munda from the village of Dianali brought the remains of his deceased sister, Kalara Munda (56 years old), to the bank in order to prove that she had died.
Jitu repeatedly tried to withdraw approximately 19,000 – 20,000 INR (200 – 210 USD), which his sister had deposited in the bank. However, the bank required standard documents, especially a death certificate and inheritance proof, without which it was not possible to release the money. The man claimed that he repeatedly explained to the officials that his sister had already died, but he was met with refusal and, according to him, also a lack of understanding of the situation.
In desperation, he eventually dug up her remains and brought them to a branch of Odisha Grameen Bank in the area to prove the death and gain access to the account. The act was captured on video and quickly spread across social media, causing a strong public reaction as well as criticism of the banking system.
Jitu stated that he was illiterate and did not understand complex administrative procedures. The bank, on the other hand, claimed that it had explained the rules to him and that it was only requesting legally required documents. Some statements also suggested that the man may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, which he denied.
After intervention by local authorities, the case was resolved quickly – the authorities issued the necessary documents, the money was paid out to the legal heirs, and the family was also offered financial assistance. Kalara’s remains were subsequently reburied.
READ MORE:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clypl5jrjqlo
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/30/india-man-body-corpse-dead-sister-bank
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/only-asked-for-papers-odisha-bank-after-man-goes-with-sisters-skeleton-11422778
