Keonjhar: Northern Division RDC Sangram Keshari Mohapatra has held the bank staff responsible for the shocking incident where a tribal man carried the skeletal remains of his deceased sister to the bank in Odisha’s Keonjhar district to withdraw money.

Notably, 42-year-old Jeetu Munda from Dianali village under Patna police limits had visited the Mallipashi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank on April 27 to withdraw money from the account of his sister, Kalara Munda, who had died without legal heirs.

Bank officials reportedly refused his request, asking him to produce a death certificate and a legal heir certificate. The RDC, in a preliminary inquiry, found negligence on the part of the bank authorities.

CCTV footage shows that Munda entered the bank at around 11:26 am and left at 11:58 am. During this period, he interacted with bank staff four times. Eventually, the bank manager asked him to leave, the RDC said, noting that the absence of audio in the CCTV footage makes it unclear what exactly transpired during the conversations.

Agitated by the refusal, Munda later exhumed his sister’s skeletal remains and carried them to the bank premises in an attempt to prove her death.

Calling the incident “extremely shameful,” the RDC said the bank officials were familiar with both Jeetu Munda and his sister, as they had previously visited the bank at least eight times to withdraw money.

The inquiry also raised questions over why Kalara Munda’s death certificate had not been issued despite her death in February. The RDC further noted that Jeetu Munda had basic knowledge of banking procedures.

The commissioner assured that strict action would be taken against those found negligent.