'Everyone’s mother dies': Chennai bank official accused of insensitivity in viral email, outrage follows

At the time of writing, neither the bank nor its zonal office in Chennai have released a statement in response to allegations.

An internal email alleging severe workplace misconduct by the zonal head of a public sector bank in Chennai has gone viral on social media, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for regulatory action.

The communication, addressed to senior management, accused the official, identified as RS Ajith, of cultivating a “dictatorial, abusive, and insensitive” work environment. The complainant stated that staff were treated as “subordinates without dignity” and forced to comply with arbitrary instructions under a “climate of fear and humiliation.”

The email outlined several cases in which employees were allegedly denied leave even in situations of acute family emergencies. One employee, whose mother had recently died, claimed that his request for time off was turned down with the remark: “Mother passed away? Everyone’s mother dies, don’t be dramatic.”

Another officer recounted being ordered to leave the intensive care unit where his infant daughter was receiving treatment and report to work immediately. According to the complaint, the zonal head warned the employee he would be marked leave without pay if he refused, adding: “Child in ICU? Are you a doctor? Either come to office or take LWP.”

A third case described how an officer’s appeal for leave to attend to his hospitalised wife was dismissed with what was described as belittling language: “You’re useless anyway.”

Mother passed away? — “Everyone’s mother dies, don’t be dramatic.”⁰Child in ICU? — “Are you a doctor? Either come to office or take LWP.”⁰Wife hospitalized? — “You’re useless anyway.”Is this how a Zonal Head at @UCOBank is expected to treat his own officers? This is not… pic.twitter.com/rGEWUEqpDl— bankpediaa (@bankpediaa) September 28, 2025

The circulation of the email on X (formerly Twitter) intensified scrutiny. One user who shared screenshots of the allegations wrote:
“Mother passed away? — ‘Everyone’s mother dies, don’t be dramatic.’ Child in ICU? — ‘Are you a doctor? Either come to office or take LWP.’ Wife hospitalised? — ‘You’re useless anyway.’ Is this the standard of leadership? This is not management; it is emotional harassment and institutional cruelty. Shame on a system that protects toxic authority while breaking employees during their most vulnerable moments.”

The post was tagged to the Reserve Bank of India, the Department of Financial Services, and the Ministry of Finance, with demands for accountability. Several commenters echoed the outrage, describing the conduct as “barbaric dictatorship” and highlighting the absence of safeguards for bank staff against managerial excesses.

One user wrote: “That man should not just be removed from work (ensured he never gets any job anywhere) but also be arrested on terms of mental trauma given to the employees.” Another added: “Honestly there should be a police complaint against these swines. There should be some laws.”

Another widely shared response read: “Discipline without humanity is decay.”

At the time of writing, neither the bank nor its zonal office in Chennai have released a public statement in response to the allegations. Meanwhile, Moneycontrol.com couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the claims.