Keonjhar tribal man carries sister's remains to bank: Odisha CM orders probe
Synopsis
A tribal man in Odisha's Keonjhar district exhumed his deceased sister's skeletal remains and carried them to a bank branch — simply to meet documentation demands for a ₹19,300 death claim. The incident has exposed deep systemic failures in rural banking access and sparked national outrage, prompting CM Majhi to order an RDC probe and fast-track the family's relief.
Key Takeaways
Jitu Munda carried his sister Kalara Munda's skeletal remains to the Malliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank on 27 April 2025 after being asked for a death certificate and legal heir documents.
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi expressed sorrow and ordered a probe by the Northern Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) , set to begin on 30 April 2025 .
The district administration provided ₹30,000 financial assistance from the District Red Cross Fund to Jitu Munda.
The Tahsildar handed over ₹19,402 (deposit plus interest) to Jitu Munda on Tuesday after coordinating with bank authorities.
A detailed inquiry has been ordered to determine if there was any administrative negligence at any level.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, expressed deep sorrow over a deeply distressing incident in Keonjhar district, where a tribal man exhumed and carried his deceased sister's skeletal remains to a bank branch after officials demanded a death certificate and legal heir certificate to process a death claim. The Chief Minister ordered a formal probe by the Northern Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) and directed officials to be more empathetic towards citizens in remote areas.
What Happened in Keonjhar
On 27 April 2025, Jitu Munda arrived at the Malliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank carrying the skeletal remains of his sister, Kalara Munda. He had reportedly exhumed her body after bank officials asked him to produce a death certificate and legal heir documents as a prerequisite to withdraw the deposit from her account. The incident triggered widespread outrage on social media and drew sharp criticism from opposition parties, who demanded immediate reforms in rural banking practices.
Government Response and Financial Assistance
Following Chief Minister Majhi's intervention, the district administration moved swiftly. A financial assistance of ₹30,000 was provided to Jitu Munda from the District Red Cross Fund in line with the Chief Minister's 'Lok Seva' approach. The administration also assisted him in applying for the death certificate and legal heir certificate on a 'Fast Track' basis. A Medical Officer issued the death certificate promptly. The Tahsildar personally coordinated with bank authorities and handed over a total of ₹19,402 — including interest on the original deposit of ₹19,300 — to Jitu Munda on Tuesday.
Probe Ordered at Multiple Levels
The Northern RDC is scheduled to begin the probe from Wednesday, 30 April 2025, and the Chief Minister has directed that the report be submitted at the earliest. Separately, the district administration ordered a detailed inquiry to determine whether there was any negligence at any administrative level. The administration acknowledged that the incident occurred due to a lack of banking awareness but maintained it is firmly committed to preventing any recurrence.
Instructions to Field Officials
Instructions have been issued to local administrative officers to be more sensitive and proactive in extending government and banking services to people in remote and tribal areas. The district administration stated:
Point of View
Yet these remain hard gatekeeping requirements for even modest bank claims. The fact that Jitu Munda saw no recourse other than exhuming his sister's remains speaks to a profound failure of last-mile banking outreach. The swift political response — RDC probe, fast-tracked certificates, ₹30,000 relief — is welcome, but it is reactive. The systemic question of why Odisha Grameen Bank officials did not invoke any grievance escalation or assisted documentation pathway remains unanswered, and no bank official has been held accountable so far.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jitu Munda carry his sister's skeletal remains to the bank?
Jitu Munda exhumed and carried his deceased sister Kalara Munda's skeletal remains to the Malliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank in Keonjhar district because bank officials demanded a death certificate and legal heir certificate before processing the death claim on her account. Unable to immediately produce these documents, he reportedly took this extreme step to prove his sister's death.
What action did Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi take?
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and ordered a probe by the Northern Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), which is set to begin on 30 April 2025. He also directed officials to be more empathetic towards citizens and asked for the probe report to be submitted at the earliest.
Did Jitu Munda receive the money from his sister's bank account?
Yes. The Tahsildar personally coordinated with bank authorities and handed over ₹19,402 — the original deposit of ₹19,300 plus interest — to Jitu Munda on Tuesday, 29 April 2025. He also received ₹30,000 in financial assistance from the District Red Cross Fund.
Who is conducting the inquiry into the Keonjhar bank incident?
The Northern Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) has been tasked with probing the incident, beginning 30 April 2025. The district administration has also separately ordered a detailed inquiry to determine whether there was any negligence at any administrative level.
What reforms have been announced to prevent such incidents in future?
The district administration has issued instructions to local administrative officers to be more sensitive and proactive in extending government and banking services to people in remote and tribal areas. The administration also facilitated fast-track issuance of the death certificate and legal heir certificate in this case as an immediate corrective measure.
