SBI: Young Man Sets Himself on Fire Outside Bank after Loan Application Allegedly Declined

A 25-year-old man set himself on fire outside a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district on Wednesday after the bank allegedly declined his loan application.

Divyaraj Pandey, an ITI diploma holder, wanted to set up an RO water purifying plant and had applied for a business loan at his bank. When the bank reportedly turned him down, Pandey doused himself with petrol from his motorcycle and set himself on fire.

Pandey sustained 70 percent burn injuries in the self-immolation bid and was rushed to Lucknow for medical attention where his condition is stated to be critical. His friend Pradeep also sustained burn injuries and is in a hospital.

Pandey’s family members alleged that he had applied for a loan to start an RO water plant but the bank officials were not sanctioning his loan due to which he took the drastic step. However, the regional manager of the SBI branch denied the allegations, saying that no loan application from Pandey was pending.

Meanwhile, taking note of the incident, a magisterial probe has been ordered by the district administration.