No Death Certificate: Indian Man Carries Sister’s Skeleton to Bank to Claim Savings

ODISHA, April 28:  In a shocking and deeply distressing incident, a man in Keonjhar district of Odisha in India exhumed his deceased sister’s remains and carried her skeleton to a bank, after failing to provide the documents required to withdraw her savings.

The incident occurred in Diyanali village, where Jitu Munda reportedly walked nearly three kilometers with his sister’s skeletal remains on his shoulders to the local branch of Odisha Gramyeen Bank. His sister had died of illness about two months ago, leaving behind savings of around ₹19,000, earned from selling cattle.

According to reports, Munda had earlier approached the bank seeking to withdraw the money, as he was the only surviving family member. However, bank officials asked him to submit a death certificate and other legal documents to process the request. Unable to obtain the paperwork due to his financial and social circumstances, he resorted to the extreme step of exhuming her remains to “prove” her death.

Eyewitnesses said Munda placed the skeleton outside the bank premises and staged a sit-in protest for several hours, demanding immediate access to the funds. The incident drew attention from residents and authorities, highlighting the desperation faced by marginalized communities when navigating formal systems.

Police later arrived at the scene and persuaded him to leave the premises. Officials subsequently arranged for the remains to be respectfully reburied.

The incident has sparked concern over access to basic documentation and banking services in rural areas, with many pointing to the urgent need for more humane and accessible processes for vulnerable individuals.