What started as a heated argument inside an HDFC Bank branch in Kanpur has escalated into a national controversy after a 45-second video clip went viral online. The footage, recorded inside the bank, shows a woman employee referring to her caste during a confrontation, triggering widespread outrage, political reactions, and sharply divided narratives about what actually occurred.
Days after the video circulated, the woman seen in the clip—Aastha Singh—came forward to say the incident has been taken out of context. Singh, a relationship manager at HDFC Bank’s Panki branch who joined the bank on December 15, claimed the viral video represents only a small portion of a much longer dispute.
According to Singh, the man involved in the argument was not a customer but the husband of a colleague. Calling it a “personal dispute,” she alleged that he behaved inappropriately with her inside the branch and that the video captured her response to his conduct.
Singh said the incident took place on January 6, well before the clip appeared online. She maintained that she mentioned her caste only after the man questioned her about it. “He asked me what caste I belonged to and why I had such an attitude. Only then did I say I am a Thakur and that I am proud of it,” she said, adding that the remark is now being used to portray the incident in a misleading way.
Describing how the situation unfolded, Singh said tensions began when former cashier Ritu Tripathi arrived at the branch to complete her resignation formalities. Tripathi’s husband, Rishi Mishra, allegedly insisted that the process be completed by 10 am, despite procedural requirements related to cash handling and key submissions.
Singh claimed the resignation process was concluded by around 4.15 pm, after which Mishra’s behaviour became increasingly aggressive. She also referred to an earlier disagreement involving Mishra’s sister over bathroom access, which she believes contributed to the hostility.
According to Singh, Mishra later confronted her inside the branch, used threatening language, and claimed to have media connections. “He told me, ‘I will take out your heat.’ How long can a woman remain silent in such circumstances?” she said.
Singh stressed that the viral clip shows only 45 seconds of a much longer episode recorded on the bank’s CCTV cameras. She said she had reported the matter to senior bank officials via email on the same day and insisted that the full footage should be released to establish the truth.
Following the video’s circulation, Singh said she was subjected to online abuse, threats, and attacks on her family. She confirmed that she has filed a complaint and intends to pursue legal action, stating that the incident has severely harmed her reputation.
However, Tripathi and her husband have disputed Singh’s account and offered a different version of events. Mishra denied questioning Singh about her caste, saying she mentioned it on her own. He claimed the dispute stemmed solely from delays in Tripathi’s resignation process.
According to the couple, Tripathi was made to wait for several hours despite completing all formalities, prompting Mishra to visit the branch and raise objections. Mishra said he later lodged a complaint on the public grievance portal, alleging inaction by the bank.
Both sides acknowledged that tensions had surfaced earlier in the day following a disagreement involving Mishra’s sister and Singh. While Singh believes the video was released later to damage her image after the bank failed to act immediately, the couple maintains that the confrontation was unrelated to caste and centred on administrative delays.
