To Withdraw His Late Sister’s $300 Deposit, 50-Year-Old Indian Man Brings Her Remains to Bank

Unable to Prove Death, He Brings Remains to the Bank

In India, a 50-year-old man visited a bank carrying his deceased sister's remains in order to withdraw her deposit. This occurred after he was unable to authenticate the required documents, and criticism has arisen that a formality-driven financial system is excluding vulnerable groups.

According to Indian media outlets such as NDTV on April 28, G2 Munda, who lives in a village in Keonjhar district in eastern Odisha, India, went to the bank around 1 p.m. the previous day carrying the remains of his sister, Karla Munda, aged 56.

G2 Munda talking with a police officer in front of the bank. Photo by India Today

The money he sought to withdraw was about 19,300 rupees (approximately 300,000 won). This was the deposit that remained in his sister's account after she died of illness two months ago, and it was virtually her only inheritance. It is known that he became the sole heir to her estate after his brother-in-law and nephew passed away several years ago.

Previously, he had visited the bank to request the withdrawal, but was refused because he could not provide either the account holder’s physical presence, a death certificate, or the necessary inheritance documents.

The Poor Blocked by Administrative Barriers

The problem was that he was unable to prepare these documents in his circumstances. As a member of a tribal community with no formal education, he was not familiar with administrative procedures, and obtaining the required documents was virtually impossible for him.

Ultimately, in order to prove his sister’s death, he took her remains from the village cremation ground, wrapped them in cloth, and carried them about three kilometers to the bank. Upon arrival, he set the remains down in front of the building and demanded the staff hand over the money. Witnesses were reportedly shocked, with some even brought to tears.

Bank’s Response Faces Criticism

Locals have criticized the bank’s response. Some residents pointed out the bank’s focus on formal procedures, asking, “Should it really be this hard for a poor person to access their own money?”

Particularly in the local community, there was criticism that the bank’s administrative handling was excessively rigid, as there were practical alternatives for confirming a death—such as using testimony from a village leader or the community—that were not utilized.

Police, who responded after receiving a report, promised to handle the matter humanely and worked to resolve the situation. It was later reported that the man reburied his sister’s remains.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.