HDFC Bank’s Kanpur employee Aastha Singh has finally responded to the viral “I am Thakur” video from the bank’s Panki branch, claiming the clip is from January 6 and involves a dispute with a colleague’s husband, not a customer. She alleges she was provoked with caste‑related insults and threats about her job, and admits her language was wrong, but says she will not apologise for being proud of her Thakur identity.
How the HDFC Bank “I Am Thakur” Viral Video Started
The controversy began when a short video from HDFC Bank’s Panki branch in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, started circulating widely on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms on February 8, 2026.
In the clip, a woman later identified as HDFC Bank employee Aastha (Astha) Singh is seen standing across a desk from a man, shouting during a heated argument inside the branch. She uses abusive language, repeatedly asserts her caste identity (“I am a Thakur”), and appears to raise her laptop in a threatening gesture while colleagues try to pull her back and calm her down.
The combination of aggressive behaviour, caste‑linked remarks and the visibly tense scene inside a customer‑facing workplace quickly triggered outrage online. Users accused the bank staffer of unprofessional conduct, caste‑based intimidation and abuse of a customer, and many tagged HDFC Bank, demanding strict action, including her suspension or termination.
Aastha Singh’s Side of the Story: “The Video Is From January 6”
After the “HDFC Bank viral video” dominated social media discussions for two days, Aastha Singh issued a written statement on Monday, which was shared by journalists and local news platforms.
She makes three key claims in her clarification:
- The video is not recent, but from January 6, 2026.
Singh says the clip was recorded almost a month earlier and has now been circulated misleadingly, giving the impression that it captured a fresh altercation. - The man in the video is not a customer but the husband of a female HDFC Bank staff member.
According to her, the confrontation was a personal dispute that took place inside the Panki, Kanpur branch, involving a colleague’s spouse, not a regular account holder standing in line for service. - She alleges provocation, including abuse and caste‑related remarks directed at her.
Singh claims the colleague’s husband allegedly misbehaved with her, used offensive language and questioned her caste, after which she lost her temper and responded inappropriately. She argues that the viral clip shows only her reaction, not the events that led up to it.
In her statement, Aastha acknowledges that her words and tone in the viral “I am Thakur” video were wrong and unprofessional, but insists the incident has been taken out of context to portray her as an employee abusing a customer. She reiterates that while her behaviour in the moment was unacceptable, she remains unapologetic about being proud of her Thakur heritage.
Online Backlash: Caste Remark, Customer Service and Workplace Conduct
HDFC Bank’s Response: Internal Inquiry and Action Against the Employee
HDFC Bank has publicly distanced itself from the behaviour seen in the “Thakur hoon” viral video and stated that such conduct does not align with its standards of customer service and workplace ethics. The bank has said it follows a zero‑tolerance policy towards misconduct by employees.
According to media reports, the bank has initiated an internal investigation into the Kanpur incident and kept Aastha Singh off active duty while the inquiry is underway, described variously as suspension or being placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome.
Local authorities in Kanpur have also taken note of the HDFC Bank viral video and the caste‑related remarks heard in it. As of Tuesday morning, no formal First Information Report (FIR) had been registered, but officials have indicated they are monitoring the situation and that any complaint raising casteist abuse inside a workplace could attract specific legal provisions if filed.
What Happens Next in the Aastha Singh HDFC Bank Viral Video Case?
For now, three parallel threads remain active in the Aastha Singh “I am Thakur” HDFC Bank case:
- Aastha Singh has publicly put forward her version, saying the clip is from January 6 and shows a dispute with a colleague’s husband who allegedly insulted her and her caste. (latestly.com)
- HDFC Bank is conducting an internal probe and has already taken preliminary action by removing her from active duty.
- Public scrutiny continues, with ongoing debate about caste, professionalism and how organisations should respond when internal conflicts explode into viral social‑media controversies.
