Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 10 (NationPress) Ritu Tripathi, a former employee of HDFC Bank, has shared her perspective on the incident that led to a viral video from an HDFC Bank branch in Kanpur. According to her, the conflict involving her husband and a bank employee originated from a disagreement during her resignation process and escalated into a heated exchange that included caste-based comments.

In an interview with IANS, Tripathi recounted that the incident took place on January 6 when she visited the Panki branch of the bank to formally submit her resignation.

She arrived at the branch at approximately 9 a.m., anticipating that the resignation procedures would be completed within a few hours. As she was fasting that day, she needed to return home in time for her prayers and was accompanied by her sister-in-law.

Tripathi stated that around 10 a.m., her sister-in-law used the washroom where a female employee, Aastha Singh, was present and had not locked the door.

She alleged that when her sister-in-law pointed out the need for the door to be locked, the employee reacted with anger and refused to acknowledge her mistake, telling her not to speak to her.

Tripathi claimed her husband arrived at the bank between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to inquire about the situation. When he suggested that a police helpline could have been called if it was a serious issue, the tension heightened.

She alleged that the employee shouted from her seat, used profane language, and made a caste-related remark, asserting, “I am a Thakur,” which Tripathi interpreted as an attempt to intimidate them.

In response to the alleged comment, Tripathi affirmed her identity, declaring that she is a Brahmin and would not submit to anyone's intimidation. She insisted that she did not initiate any violence and was solely there to finalize her resignation.

Tripathi’s husband, Rishi Mishra, also denied any claims of aggression towards the bank employee.

He explained that his wife was at the bank to peacefully submit her resignation and that he himself did not intend to cause any trouble or use force. “I was fully aware and in control of my actions. I did not act violently. I only spoke to Shivam, a bank employee,” Mishra stated, alleging that the response from the staff was hostile.

The incident gained widespread attention after a 43-second video recorded at the HDFC Bank branch circulated on social media, depicting a female employee embroiled in a heated argument with a person and allegedly making a caste-related remark. The employee, Aastha Singh, has also shared her version of the events and is calling for an investigation.

In her statement to IANS, Singh confirmed that the incident occurred on January 6 and involved the husband of one of the bank's staff members.

“This incident is from January 6. It involves the husband of one of our bank staff members. I am demanding an investigation. Previously, the husband of one of our staff members came in and used abusive language,” Singh remarked to IANS.

She elaborated on the timeline of events, indicating that she had a brief disagreement with a relative of a female staff member, which concluded quickly.

“I had a small dispute that lasted about a minute and was resolved quickly,” she said.

Additionally, she explained that the issue arose from the formalities associated with the relieving process for the staff member who had resigned, emphasizing that corporate protocols are time-consuming and cannot be expedited.

“The issue was that when you join or leave any corporate entity, the formalities are often lengthy. As a cashier, you must hand over keys and complete all essential procedures before being officially relieved,” she noted.

Singh added that the staff member had expected to be relieved on the same day, which she indicated was not feasible given the company’s protocols.

“In some organizations, the relieving period can be three months, and in others, it is 30 days. That bank staff member wanted to be relieved immediately,” she mentioned.

She alleged that the staff member's husband then entered the branch, became aggressive, and questioned her caste.

“The husband of the bank staff approached my desk and asked, ‘Which caste are you that you show such arrogance? If you’re feeling heated, we’ll help you cool down. We can manage your heat because we are in the press,’” she recounted to IANS.

Singh further claimed he requested someone to call a female constable and posed the question of how a woman is expected to endure such treatment.

As both parties trade accusations, the situation has sparked extensive online debate. Singh is calling for an investigation, while Tripathi and her family deny any wrongdoing, asserting they faced abuse and caste-based remarks during a standard resignation process.