‘Main Brahman Hoon Aur Mujhe Garv Hai’: Ritu Tripathi Mishra Shares Her Side After HDFC Bank Employee Aastha Singh’s ‘Thakur Hoon’ Viral Video

Lucknow, February 10: The controversy surrounding a viral video from an HDFC Bank branch in Kanpur has escalated into a public dispute between two former colleagues. Ritu Tripathi Mishra, the woman mentioned in a recent clarification by bank employee Aastha Singh, has come forward to reject Singh's claims of provocation. The case, which went viral following a 45-second clip of Singh asserting her caste identity, has now taken a polarized turn, with both parties leveling serious allegations against each other.

The incident occurred on January 6 at the Panki branch during Tripathi’s final day of work following her resignation. While the footage only recently gained widespread attention, it shows a heated argument where Singh is heard saying, "I am a Thakur." Singh recently claimed she was responding to a query about her caste and a threat to her "arrogance," but Tripathi and her husband, Rishu Mishra, maintain that Singh invoked her identity voluntarily to intimidate them. Former HDFC Bank Employee Ritu Tripathi and Husband Rishi Mishra Reject Aastha Singh’s ‘Caste Provocation’ Claims (Watch Videos).

Ritu Tripathi Mishra Shares Her Side

Ritu Tripathi Alleges Harassment and Abuse

In a video statement, Ritu Tripathi Mishra identified herself as the person "whose family’s respect was lost" during the altercation. She alleged that she was insulted, abused, and threatened with physical damage to her laptop by Singh. Tripathi, who identified herself by her maternal and marital Brahmin surnames, stated that she did not initially make the video viral because she did not seek "false fame."

Tripathi further claimed that the dispute was rooted in professional delays, alleging that she was made to wait for several hours to complete her exit formalities despite finishing her work. "I am a Brahmin, and I am proud of that," she added, appealing for public support while claiming she was the victim of workplace aggression. HDFC Bank Employee Aastha Singh Breaks Silence on Viral ‘I Am Thakur’ Video.

Dispute Over 'Caste Provocation' Claims

Ritu’s husband, Rishu Mishra, also addressed Aastha Singh’s claim that he had questioned her caste. Mishra questioned why he would ask about the caste of someone who worked with his wife. He asserted that he arrived at the bank at 4:30 PM because his wife was late returning home on her last day.

According to Mishra, when he inquired about the delay, Singh began shouting and "roaring" at him. He maintains that Singh’s reference to being a "Thakur" was an unprovoked attempt to assert dominance during the argument, rather than a response to a specific question about her background.

Aastha Singh Cites Threats and Legal Action

On the other side, Aastha Singh stands by her statement, though she admitted that she used "inappropriate words" in the heat of the moment. She explained that the tension began earlier that morning due to a disagreement with Mishra's sister and escalated when Mishra allegedly behaved rudely toward her in the evening.

Singh has expressed serious safety concerns, claiming she has received rape threats since the video went viral. She alleged that the 45-second clip is a "misrepresented" portion of a longer confrontation and has called for the full CCTV video to be released. Singh confirmed she intends to pursue legal action to protect her reputation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 10, 2026 09:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).