A video of Rajesh Jain, the branch manager of Patharia Seva Sahakari Bank in Damoh district, getting his feet massaged during work hours has gone viral on social media, eliciting a wide range of reactions. In defense, Jain claims he was receiving the massage due to a foot sprain.
Bank Manager took Massage inside branch. Customer recorded video. pic.twitter.com/IkZ6c60KgP
— Hellobanker (@Hellobanker_in) July 20, 2024
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday when Jain was seen sitting on a chair inside the bank while an elderly man, seated on the ground, massaged his feet. A visitor to the bank captured the scene on video and posted it online, where it quickly gained attention. The elderly man, who is frequently seen around Patharia town, had come to the bank for some work in the afternoon when Jain asked him to provide the massage.
The bank in question is part of a cooperative system set up to assist farmers with financial transactions, loans, and deposits. These cooperative branches, located in larger towns, are meant to support the farming community. The Patharia branch at Jhanda Chowk, where the video was filmed, serves this purpose. Local residents claim that Jain has a habit of calling in vulnerable farmers to massage his hands and feet during office hours.
Rajesh Jain, responding to the backlash, stated that he had a sprain in his foot and was in significant pain, which led him to seek a massage from a passerby outside the bank. He emphasized that the elderly man was not a farmer but someone who roams around the area.
Anupam Khare, General Manager of Cooperative Bank Damoh, commented that he had not yet been made aware of the viral video. The incident has sparked a discussion about the responsibilities and behavior of bank officials, particularly in institutions meant to serve the agricultural community.
