An unusual and troubling scene unfolded in eastern India this week after an elderly man exhumed his late sister’s remains and took them to a bank in an attempt to access her savings.
According to India Times, the incident happened on Monday in the Malipasi area of Keonjhar district.
The man, identified as Jitu Munda, had visited a local branch of Odisha Grameen Bank hoping to withdraw about 20,000 rupees from his late sister’s account.
His sister, Kalara Munda, had died earlier in the year, but bank officials asked him to provide the necessary documentation before any money could be released. According to local reports, Munda had made several trips to the bank without success.
Frustrated and unsure of the process, he returned with what he believed was the only proof he could provide his sister’s exhumed skeleton.
Witnesses said the act shocked both staff and customers inside the bank. Munda later explained that he had repeatedly told officials his sister was dead, but felt he wasn’t being taken seriously.
Police officers were called to the scene shortly after. A local officer, Kiran Prasad Sahu, said the situation pointed to a clear breakdown in communication.
According to him, Munda had little or no understanding of formal banking procedures, including the need for legal documents such as proof of heirship or account nomination.
He added that bank officials also failed to properly explain the process in a way the man could understand.
Following police intervention, the bank assured authorities that it would guide Munda through the correct steps required to access the funds legally.
The remains were later returned to the gravesite and reburied under police supervision.
Local officials say the case was further complicated because the nominee listed on the account had also died, leaving Munda as the only surviving relative with a potential claim.
Authorities have now pledged to help him obtain the necessary documents, including a legal heir certificate, so the funds can be released in line with the law.
The incident has since drawn attention to the challenges faced by people in rural communities when dealing with formal institutions, particularly where literacy and access to clear information remain limited.
