Man Digs Up Sister’s Grave, Takes Remains to Bank in Odisha After Repeated Denial

A disturbing incident from Odisha has sparked outrage after a man reportedly dug up his deceased sister’s grave and brought her remains to a bank, following repeated refusals by staff to release money from her account.

The incident took place in the Keonjhar district, where a 50 year old tribal man, Jitu Munda, visited a branch of Odisha Gramya Bank in Maliposi. He had been trying to withdraw Rs 20,000 from the account of his late sister, Kalra Munda, who passed away on January 26 this year.

According to Jitu, he had made several visits to the bank but was repeatedly told to bring the account holder in person to process the withdrawal. Despite informing the staff multiple times that his sister had died, his requests were allegedly ignored. Frustrated and desperate, he exhumed her grave and carried her bones to the bank as proof of her death. A video of the incident has since gone viral, drawing widespread attention.

Police were alerted soon after. Karan Prasad Sahu, the inspector in charge of Patna police station, reached the spot and managed the situation. Officials stated that Jitu is an illiterate man with little understanding of formal banking procedures, including nominee rules and legal documentation.

Authorities also revealed that the nominee listed on Kalra Munda’s account had already passed away, making Jitu the rightful claimant. They criticized the bank staff for failing to explain the proper process and instead making unreasonable demands that led to mental distress.

Following the incident, local administration stepped in. Manas Dandapat, the Block Development Officer, said he was unaware of the issue earlier but is now working to resolve it urgently. Police reassured Jitu and ensured that the remains were respectfully reburied.

Officials have directed the concerned bank branch to complete the required paperwork without delay and release the funds to Jitu. The case has raised serious concerns about the functioning of banking services in rural and underdeveloped areas, highlighting the need for better awareness and more humane handling of such situations.