Man in India digs up sister’s skeleton, brings it to bank to prove she died so he could withdraw S$260 savings

A man in eastern India dug up his late sister’s skeletal remains and brought them to a bank after he said he was repeatedly unable to withdraw money from her account.

A video of the incident, which took place in Odisha, has since gone viral online and sparked national outrage.

Brought skeleton to bank after repeated failed attempts to withdraw funds

According to the BBC, 52-year-old Jitu Munda said he took the remains to the bank out of frustration after staff continued asking for proof that his sister had died.

His sister, Kalara Munda, 56, had deposited about IN₹19,300 (S$260) into her account before her death earlier this year.

“When the bank manager refused to listen and kept asking for proof, I got frustrated,” Munda told the BBC.

“I brought the skeleton to show that she had died.”

The viral clip shows him carrying skeletal remains wrapped in a sack and placing them outside the bank’s entrance. It is unclear who filmed the footage.

Police later confirmed he had exhumed the remains from her burial site before bringing them to the branch.

Man claimed bank asked him to bring account holder

In a separate account cited by The Telegraph India, Munda said he had visited the bank several times but was told to bring the account holder in person.

“I have run several times to the bank, and the people there told me to bring the account holder,” he told reporters.

“Though I told them that she had died, they did not listen to me and insisted on bringing her to the bank. Therefore, out of frustration, I dug the grave and brought out her skeleton as proof of her death.”

Police later ensured the remains were reburied at the graveyard after the incident, according to The Telegraph India.

Bank denies asking for physical presence of deceased

The bank said claims that staff had requested the physical presence of the deceased were incorrect.

In a statement reported by the BBC, Indian Overseas Bank, which operates the Odisha Grameen Bank branch involved, said the incident appeared to stem from a lack of awareness about procedures.

“The individual who was in an inebriated condition became disruptive and later returned with human remains, reportedly exhumed after being buried a few days earlier,” the bank said in a post on X.

“This created a highly distressing situation at the premises.”

Branch manager Sushant Kumar Sethi told BBC that Munda had earlier claimed his sister was paralysed and unable to visit the bank, and staff had offered to assist by going to her home instead.

He later said she had died, Sethi added.

Sethi also disputed other parts of Munda’s account, saying the man had not visited the branch in the past two months and that other legal heirs had already come forward to claim the money, prompting officials to request the necessary documents before releasing the funds.

Authorities investigating incident

The case drew widespread criticism online, with some pointing to the bureaucratic hurdles families face when trying to access the funds of deceased relatives.

Odisha revenue minister Suresh Pujari said the matter was under investigation and action would be taken against the branch manager over his alleged conduct.

Police and local officials later intervened, persuading Munda to return the remains to the burial ground and assuring him that his request would be addressed, according to the BBC.

By Wednesday, authorities had issued the necessary death certificate and legal heir documents, allowing the funds to be released to the woman’s family members.

Officials also provided Munda with IN₹30,000 (S$403) in assistance.