A 52-year-old man from Eastern India has drawn widespread attention over the extraordinary step he took to convince a bank that his sister had died.
Jitu Munda, a member of a tribal community in Odisha, said he went to unusual lengths while trying to access money his sister, Kalara Munda, had left behind.
According to Jitu, he couldn’t produce a death certificate, which he said was required before the bank would process the claim. Without the paperwork, he decided to provide what he believed would be undeniable proof.
He exhumed his sister’s remains and carried them to the bank.
Speaking to the BBC, Jitu said: “I was asked to prove whether my sister was alive or dead.
“Since I had no papers, I brought her remains to show that she was dead.
“When the bank manager refused to listen and kept asking for proof, I got frustrated.
“I brought the skeleton to show that she had died.”
A video that has since spread online appears to show him arriving at the branch with remains in a sack, before leaving them near the entrance.
The bank later issued its own response in a statement shared on social media.
Reported Incident at Odisha Grameen Bank of claimant bringing sister’s skeleton for death claim process.
We would like to submit that, today the Government Authorities have issued the Death Certificate and Legal Heir Certificate. Immediately on receipt of these documents, Bank…
— Indian Overseas Bank (@IOBIndia) April 28, 2026
In the post, the bank rejected claims that he had been told to bring the deceased’s “physical presence,” describing that allegation as inaccurate and not grounded in the facts.
The bank said the conflict stemmed from a misunderstanding of the claims process, as well as an alleged refusal to follow the steps the branch manager explained, including submitting official documents such as a death certificate.
It also alleged that Jitu arrived at the branch in an “inebriated condition” while attempting to claim the money.
In its account, after he was sent away, he then went to exhume his sister’s remains and returned to the bank again.
Bank representatives said the incident escalated into a “highly distressing” situation, and police arrived shortly afterwards.
Branch manager Sushant Kumar Sethi told BBC that Jitu had first said his sister was paralysed and therefore unable to visit the bank, and that staff had offered to go to her home. He later said she had died.
Sushant also challenged other elements of Jitu’s version of events, saying Jitu had not visited the branch in the last two months, and that other legal heirs had approached the bank to seek the funds, leading the bank to ask for the required documentation.
Officials reportedly issued the necessary death certificate and legal heir certificate earlier this week, allowing Jitu to proceed with the claim for the money, said to total 19,402 rupees (Roughly $200 USD).
In India, when a bank customer dies without naming a nominee, relatives typically have to provide formal paperwork before the funds can be released. In rural or remote locations, obtaining these documents can take significant time.
Afterward, officials spoke with Jitu and urged him to rebury his sister’s remains. He was reportedly offered 30,000 rupees (approximately $316 USD).