Bhubaneswar: Shri Naveen Patnaik, Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly has reached out Union Finance Minister Shrimati Nirmala Sitharaman regarding a harrowing incident in the Keonjhar district.
In a formal letter dated 2 May, 2026 Shri Patnaik detailed out plight of Shri Jitu Munda, a tribal citizen who was reportedly forced to exhume his sister’s skeletal remains to provide proof of death at the Malliposi branch of the Odisha Gramya Bank in Keonjhar District.
The incident occurred on 27 April after Shri Munda had made several unsuccessful attempts to withdraw his rightful dues, meeting only with a lack of assistance from bank officials.
Shri Patnaik expressed deep anguish over the bank’s subsequent attempt to justify the requirement by citing RBI guidelines, calling the conduct inhuman and a humiliation of a citizen.
The story has gained significant traction, drawing condemnation in local sentiment and catching the attention of international media outlets such as the BBC and the New York Post.
Shri Patnaik emphasized that while this may be an isolated event, it highlights a dire need for a more humane approach to banking administration in remote tribal regions.
The letter concludes with an urgent request for the Union Finance Minister to ensure immediate accountability for those involved.
Shri Patnaik urged for a transformation in rural banking that guarantees service delivery rooted in empathy and compassion, ensuring that no other citizen has to endure such treatment in the pursuit of their own rights.