Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday ordered an inquiry into the circumstances that led to an Adivasi man in Keonjhar district exhuming his sister’s body and taking her skeletal remains to a Odisha Grameen Bank branch to prove that she had died two months ago, PTI reported.
Jeetu Munda did this so that he could withdraw money that was deposited into her account.
The inquiry will also ascertain “how to prevent such episodes in future”, PTI quoted an unidentified official in the chief minister’s office as saying.
The official added that Majhi had “expressed grief” over the incident and directed officials to “be more sensitive towards people”, PTI reported.
The revenue divisional commissioner of state’s northern division has been directed to conduct the probe.
Jeetu Munda was provided financial assistance of Rs 30,000 from the District Red Cross Fund, the death certificate of his sister and the inheritance certificate, PTI quoted the statement as having added.
He has reportedly also received the money from his sister’s account.
Meanwhile, the Indian Overseas Bank in a follow-up statement on Tuesday evening said that the Odisha Grameen Bank, a rural bank that it sponsors, has “settled the claim amount of Rs 19,402 in the name of three legal heirs and money handed over to them, in accordance with established norms”.
It did not specify who the heirs were.
The incident of the woman’s skeletal remains being taken to the bank’s Maliposi branch occurred on Monday.
The sister, Kalra Munda, died on January 26.
Jeetu Munda was quoted as saying by PTI: “I have gone several times to the bank, and the people there told me to bring the account holder to withdraw money deposited in her name. Though I told them that she had died, they insisted on bringing her to the bank.”
He said that he eventually exhumed her body “out of frustration”.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian Overseas Bank had claimed that the matter was “due to a lack of awareness of the claim settlement process” and Jeetu Munda’s “unwillingness to accept the procedures”.
“There is no case of any harassment,” it said.
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