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In a shocking incident highlighting gaps in awareness and banking procedures, a man in Keonjhar district brought the skeletal remains of his deceased sister to a bank after allegedly being told to “bring the account holder” to withdraw money.

The incident occurred at a branch of Odisha Grameen Bank in the Patana block. The man, identified as Jeetu Munda (50) from Dianali village, was trying to withdraw Rs 20,000 from the account of his elder sister, Kalra Munda (56), who had passed away two months ago following an illness.

According to police, Jeetu had visited the bank multiple times seeking access to the funds. However, officials asked him to provide a death certificate and other formal documents required to process the withdrawal. Unable to understand or arrange the paperwork, the illiterate man reportedly exhumed his sister’s remains as proof of her death.



“I went to the bank several times, but they kept asking me to bring the account holder. I told them she had died, but they did not listen. Out of frustration, I dug up her grave and brought her skeleton,” Jeetu told reporters.

Inspector-in-charge Kiran Prasad Sahu of Patana police station said the incident stemmed from a lack of awareness. “Jeetu is an illiterate tribal man and unaware of legal procedures like nominee or legal heir claims. The bank officials also failed to clearly explain the process,” he said.

Following the incident, police intervened and assured Jeetu that they would help him complete the formalities needed to withdraw the money. The skeletal remains were later reburied at the graveyard in the presence of authorities.

Local Block Development Officer Manas Dandpat said he had not been approached earlier regarding the matter but promised to assist in resolving the issue.

Bank sources revealed that the nominee listed in Kalra Munda’s account had also passed away, making Jeetu the sole claimant. The local administration has now directed bank officials to facilitate the withdrawal process and ensure he receives the funds at the earliest.