In an incident that has raised questions about workplace stress in India’s banking sector, a senior manager at Bank of Baroda allegedly died by suicide inside the bank’s Baramati branch in Maharashtra’s Pune district. Shivshankar Mitra, 52, was serving his notice period after resigning earlier this month. A suicide note recovered from the scene cited “work pressure” as the driving cause.
Resignation filed weeks before death
Mitra, originally from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, was the chief manager at the Baramati branch. On July 11, he submitted his resignation letter, citing health concerns and unbearable work stress. He was serving the mandatory 90-day notice period and was still attending to his duties when the incident occurred on the night of July 17.
According to Baramati police, Mitra asked his colleagues to leave after banking hours, stating that he would shut the branch for the night. The security guard also left around 9:30 pm. Investigators revealed that earlier in the day, Mitra had requested a colleague to bring a rope. He used the same rope later to end his life.
Around 10:00 pm, Mitra hanged himself from the ceiling inside the branch. The act was reportedly captured on the bank’s CCTV footage. When he failed to return home or answer calls, his worried wife went to the branch around midnight. Finding the lights still on and no response from inside, she alerted other staff members. Upon unlocking the door, they found Mitra’s lifeless body.
Police officials confirmed the presence of a suicide note at the scene. In it, Mitra made no accusations but highlighted the immense stress faced by bank staff. He apologised to his wife and daughter and even expressed a desire to donate his eyes posthumously.
Inspector Vilas Nale of the Baramati City Police Station stated, “We have recovered his resignation letter and the suicide note. There is no indication of foul play, but we are investigating whether any undue pressure was exerted during his notice period.”
Mitra’s body was sent for a postmortem, and an accidental death report (ADR) has been filed as per standard procedure.
Bank union calls for urgent review of banking workload
The All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Association strongly condemned the incident, terming it a wake-up call. In a statement, the union said, “This needs serious introspection. It is a fact that officers and executives are currently under severe stress due to poorly coordinated and overlapping campaigns.” “Staff shortage is another critical issue,” the association adds.
The association has demanded that banks take urgent steps to reassess employee workload, mental health support mechanisms, and staffing policies.
Bank issues statement
Bank of Baroda, in a statement, expressed that it is “deeply shocked” by the untimely demise of its employee.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this trying time. We are providing full support and assistance to his family,” said Bank of Baroda in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
The bank added, “Employee Wellness is a Predominant Priority for our Bank, and various schemes have been initiated to make it a healthy workplace. We also run a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to take care of the health and well-being of the employees and their family members. We would like to affirm that our Barodian people and their Wellness remain our Topmost Priority.”
DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or in distress, contact the Vandrevala Foundation’s helpline (+91-9999666555), which is available in 11 languages, including English and can be accessed via telephone or WhatsApp 24×7. You can also contact Fortis Hospital’s National Helpline number 91-8376804102, which is available 24×7. You can also contact the Government Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline ‘KIRAN’ at 18005990019, which is available 24×7.