Odisha Minister Suresh Pujari said that there was a “lack of humanitarian approach” in the incident and added that the state government will ensure action against the concerned officials.
In the viral video, the tribal man was seen carrying his deceased sister's skeleton to the bank to withdraw money from her account. (Image: ANI)
In a shocking incident, a tribal man in Odisha’s Keonjhar district carried his deceased sister’s skeleton to a bank to withdraw ₹20,000 deposited in her account. The incident took place at the Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank in Patana block of Keonjhar on April 27.
The person has been identified as Jeetu Munda, 50, from Dianali village. He visited the bank to withdraw the amount from the bank account of his elder sister, Kalra Munda, who passed away on January 26.
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‘Bring the account holder’
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Talking about the incident, Jeetu told mediapersons that he visited the bank on multiple occasions to take the money, but was asked to bring the account holder.
“I have run several times to the bank, and the people there told me to bring the account holder to withdraw money deposited in her name. Though I told them that she had died, they did not listen to me and insisted on bringing her to the bank,” Jeetu said.
Later on, Jeetu decided to dig the grave and bring out his sister’s skeleton as proof of her death.
“Therefore, out of frustration, I dug the grave and brought out her skeleton as proof of her death,” Jeetu said.
Patana Police Station Inspector in charge (IIC) Kiran Prasad Sahu said Jeetu is an “illiterate tribal man.”
“He does not know what the legal heir or nominee is. The bank officials have failed to make him understand the procedure to withdraw money from the dead person’s account,” Sahu said.
Congress, BJD slam Odisha govt
After a video of the incident went viral on social media, the Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) condemned the incident and targeted the BJP government in the state.
“An unimaginable sight in the Chief Minister’s district, crossing all limits of cruelty,” BJD wrote on X.
କେହି ଶୁଣିଲେନି ଗୁହାରି, ମାଟି ତଳୁ ଭାଇ ଆଣିଲା ଭଉଣୀର ଶବ।
ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ଜିଲ୍ଲାରେ ଅଭାବନୀୟ ଦୃଶ୍ୟ, ନିର୍ଦୟତାର ସବୁ ସୀମା ଟପିଗଲା।#Kendujhar#BJPAntiPeople #ହଟାଅବିଜେପି #ରଙ୍ଗବଦଳାସରକାର #JababMaguchiOdisha pic.twitter.com/jagMklsywH
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) April 28, 2026
Odisha Congress chief Bhakta Charan Das termed the incident as “truly unfortunate” and added that “such harassment by bank officials must stop.”
Meanwhile, Odisha’s revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari stated that there was a “lack of humanitarian approach” and noted that the state government will ensure action against the concerned officials.
“A humanitarian approach was lacking in the whole episode. I have spoken to senior officers of the local administration. The government has taken serious note of the incident. We will ensure that the banking officials who are responsible for this are punished,” Pujari said.
Uma Shankar Dalai, Sub Collector, Keonjhar, said Jeetu Munda took this step “out of frustration” as he was unaware about the procedural aspects.
“Prima facie, it appears that since this man is not a class-I legal heir of his sister, the concerned bank rightly asked him for documents which he could not produce,” Dalai said.
A tribal man was seen carrying his deceased sister’s skeleton to the bank to withdraw money from her account, claiming to be her heir, in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, on April 27.
On the incident, Uma Shankar Dalai, Sub Collector, Keonjhar, said, “The tribal man was not aware of… pic.twitter.com/oe5l3xE8Yo
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2026
Jeetu is now expected to apply for the necessary documents, while the administration is facilitating early procession of Red Cross Assistance of ₹20,000, the death certificate as well as the legal heir certificate.
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