A UCO Bank branch manager in Naghali, Khurda district, Odisha, has been suspended two months after a local resident brought his deceased sister's skeleton to the bank as proof of her death. Mrutyunjaya Baliarsingh, the manager of the Naghali branch, was suspended following an internal investigation initiated by the bank. This action comes after Prafulla Kumar Moharana’s extreme measure to claim his unmarried sister Bharati Moharana's deposits, totaling approximately Rs 1.5 lakh (approximately $1,800 USD), gained significant public attention.

Bharati Moharana, aged 56, passed away in March 2024. As she was unmarried and had no designated nominees for her accounts, her brother, Prafulla Kumar Moharana, initiated the process to claim her deposits. He reportedly submitted several documents to the Naghali branch, including a death certificate issued by the Brahmagiri Notified Area Council (NAC), a local police report concerning her death, and a certificate from a village sarpanch. Despite these submissions, the bank allegedly requested additional documentation.

According to Mr. Moharana, the bank insisted on a "legal heir certificate" obtained from a court, a process that can be time-consuming and complex. Faced with what he described as significant bureaucratic hurdles and an inability to access his sister's funds for two months, Prafulla Kumar Moharana took the drastic step in May 2024 of bringing her skeleton to the bank. He had reportedly preserved his sister's remains after her cremation specifically for this purpose, following continued difficulties in proving her demise to the bank's satisfaction.

The incident, which included a video documenting Mr. Moharana's act, circulated widely on social media platforms and through news reports, drawing public scrutiny to the bank's procedures. The widespread attention prompted UCO Bank's central administration to acknowledge the situation and launch a comprehensive internal inquiry into the matter. The bank publicly stated its commitment to reviewing its procedures for handling claims related to deceased account holders and ensuring such incidents do not recur.

On July 19, 2024, UCO Bank officially announced the suspension of branch manager Mrutyunjaya Baliarsingh, pending the full outcome of the internal investigation. A bank spokesperson confirmed the suspension and reiterated the institution's intent to streamline its processes for legal heir claims. The bank also affirmed it would provide necessary assistance to the Moharana family to facilitate the release of Bharati Moharana's deposits. The precise findings of the internal investigation and any further disciplinary actions or procedural changes remain pending.