Nagpur: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Wednesday staged a strong protest in Nagpur against the Union Bank of India’s Seminary Hills branch for allegedly refusing to disburse a ₹2 lakh insurance claim to the family of a deceased youth, citing language issues with the FIR.

According to the family of Yogesh Bopche, who recently passed away, the bank declined the claim stating that the FIR submitted with the insurance documents was in Marathi and, therefore, unacceptable. Bank officials allegedly insisted that the FIR be submitted in either Hindi or English for it to be processed.

Outraged by the incident, MNS workers blackened the bank’s signboard in protest and demanded accountability from the branch manager. “We will not tolerate disrespect towards Marathi,” declared the protesting MNS members.

Bopche’s family had been following up with the bank for over two weeks without any resolution. The protest disrupted regular banking operations, prompting police presence at the site to maintain law and order.

The incident has sparked debate over linguistic rights and the use of Marathi — the official language of Maharashtra — in formal procedures, especially in state-based transactions. Further developments are awaited.