Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Saturday, 2 May, wrote to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, expressing deep anguish over a disturbing incident at the Malliposi branch of Odisha Gramya Bank in Keonjhar district, where a tribal man was forced to exhume his deceased sister's skeletal remains to prove her death and withdraw ₹20,000 in savings.

What Happened at the Keonjhar Bank

On 27 April, Jeetu Munda, a 50-year-old tribal man from Keonjhar, Odisha, took the extreme step of exhuming the remains of his sister, Kalra Munda, who had passed away in January, and carrying them to the rural bank branch. He did so after the bank reportedly demanded her "physical presence" as a condition to process the withdrawal — a requirement he was unable to meet through any other means despite making numerous visits to the branch. The incident has since drawn widespread attention in national and international media, according to Patnaik's letter.

Patnaik's Letter to the Finance Minister

In his letter, Patnaik described the episode as an act of institutional failure and a betrayal of the citizens banks are meant to serve. He quoted directly: "A tribal citizen, Mr Jeetu Munda, was forced to exhume the skeletal remains of his sister and carry it to the bank as proof of her death in order to withdraw his rightful dues. This was after numerous unsuccessful visits to the bank where he failed to get assistance or clarity from the officials."

The BJD chief was particularly critical of the bank's attempt to justify the conduct by citing adherence to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. "What is more shocking is the bank's attempt to justify this inhuman conduct by citing adherence to RBI guidelines. This shows a disturbing intent on the part of the bank officials to hide behind procedures and abandon the very people they are meant to serve. I need not reiterate that in a democracy, rules are meant to empower citizens, not humiliate them," he wrote.

Demands: Accountability and Systemic Reform

Patnaik urged Sitharaman to fix immediate accountability for the lapse, calling it a necessary signal to all rural banks across the country. "I urge you to ensure that clear accountability is immediately fixed for this shocking lapse. This will send a clear signal to all rural banks to guarantee citizen-centric service delivery with empathy and compassion," he said.

He also framed the incident as an opportunity for broader systemic reform, particularly for banking services in remote tribal regions. "This incident, though isolated, gives us an insight to put in place a more humane banking administration, especially in remote tribal areas," Patnaik noted. He closed by expressing confidence that Sitharaman's intervention would prevent such episodes from recurring anywhere in India.

Broader Context and Public Outrage

The Keonjhar incident has reignited debate around the accessibility and sensitivity of rural banking in India, particularly for tribal and marginalised communities who often face procedural barriers when claiming legitimate dues. This is not the first time that rigid documentation requirements at rural bank branches have led to distress among vulnerable citizens — similar cases involving death certificates, nominee disputes, and physical verification demands have been reported in other states as well. The incident has reportedly outraged public sentiment across Odisha and prompted calls for the RBI to revisit its guidelines on deceased account settlements in rural contexts.

With Patnaik's letter now formally on record, pressure is mounting on the Finance Ministry to respond with both accountability measures and a policy-level review of how rural banks handle claims involving deceased account holders.