A tribal man’s death in Jharkhand’s Garhwa district has sparked outrage after his family accused a rural bank of delaying access to his money, allegedly leaving him without funds for medical treatment. Carrying the deceased’s body, relatives and villagers staged a protest inside the bank on Monday, claiming repeated delays in completing e-KYC and releasing money cost him his life. The bank has denied the allegation, saying the account became operational after e-KYC and that no family member returned to withdraw the funds.
FAMILY ALLEGES MONTHS OF DELAY
According to the family, Ratan Lakra had been receiving a government pension in his account at Jharkhand Gramin Bank, and the money was meant to pay for his treatment.
His relatives alleged that the bank manager made them visit the branch repeatedly for nearly three months to complete the mandatory e-KYC process. They claimed that only after intervention by the regional manager did the bank agree to complete the verification, by which time Lakra was critically ill.
The family alleged they even brought the bedridden patient to the bank to complete the e-KYC formalities. Despite that, they claimed, they were again made to wait for access to the money.
“We kept running from pillar to post. Even after the e-KYC was completed, we were not given the money. Today he has died because he could not get treatment,” family members alleged during the protest.
Holding the bank responsible for the death, relatives and villagers reached the branch with Lakra’s body and demanded action against those they blamed for the delay.
BANK REJECTS ALLEGATION
Bank officials disputed the family’s account.
Vikas Kumar, cashier at Jharkhand Gramin Bank, said the e-KYC process had been completed and there was no restriction on withdrawing money afterwards.
According to the bank, “The e-KYC had been completed, but after that no family member came to the bank to withdraw the money. That is why no amount was withdrawn. Today, after his death, they have come to the bank with the body.”
The bank maintained that the money remained available in the account and denied withholding the funds.
The incident has triggered sharp questions over access to banking services in rural areas, particularly when delays in documentation affect families dependent on welfare payments for urgent medical treatment.
– Ends
With inputs from Chandan Kumar Kashyap.
Published By:
Sonali Verma
Published On:
Jul 6, 2026 23:46 IST
