A man in eastern India carried his deceased sister’s body to a bank in an attempt to access her savings, after being repeatedly denied access to the funds, according to multiple news reports.
Jeetu Munda, from the state of Odisha, took the drastic measure after bank officials insisted he bring the account holder to withdraw the money, even after he informed them of her death. “I went to the bank several times and the people there told me to bring the account holder to withdraw the money deposited in her name. Even after I told them that she had died, they didn’t listen and insisted I bring her to the bank,” Munda told news outlets.
Munda then exhumed his sister’s remains and carried them to the bank branch as proof of her death. The incident stemmed from the bank’s requirement for a death certificate to legally process the withdrawal of funds.
Indian Overseas Bank, the parent bank of the rural branch involved, released a statement saying the intention was to protect the interests of the tribal woman’s funds in the account. The bank denied requesting the physical presence of the deceased, stating the issue arose from a misunderstanding regarding formal procedures. “There is no case of harassment,” the bank said in its statement.
Following Munda’s arrival with the body, bank employees contacted local police, who intervened and convinced him to rebury his sister. Police then advised him to obtain a death certificate, according to the bank’s statement. The case highlights the challenges faced by individuals in rural communities navigating bureaucratic processes, particularly when lacking formal documentation.
Munda, who reportedly was intoxicated at the time, was ultimately able to access his sister’s savings after presenting the necessary documentation, Teletrece reported.
Univision and Cooperativa.cl likewise reported on the incident.
