Matters India Reporter

Bilaspur, August 2, 2025: A National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Bilaspur on Aug. 2 granted bail to three individuals, including two Catholic nuns from Kerala, arrested on July 25 over allegations of human trafficking and forceful religious conversion.

The accused—Sister Preeti Mary, Sister Vandana Francis, and Sukhman Mandavi—were arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Durg railway station following a complaint filed by members of a Hindu outfit. The complaint alleged that the trio was attempting to forcibly convert and traffic three tribal women from Narayanpur.

The bail was granted by Principal District and Sessions Judge (NIA Court) Sirajuddin Qureshi, who had reserved the order on Aug. 1. Each accused was released on a bail bond of ₹50,000, with the condition that they must not leave the country.

“There was no need to keep them in custody,” said Amrito Das, counsel for the nuns. “The FIR was based on suspicion after the nuns were seen with the women. There is no evidence of assault, coercion, or trafficking in the police diary.”

Das further argued that the three women involved were adults and had been practicing Christianity for years. “There are no ingredients for human trafficking or forceful conversion in the FIR,” he said, adding that the nuns are elderly, have no criminal record, and were not subjected to custodial interrogation.

The GRP official present in court was asked by the judge whether custodial interrogation was necessary. The prosecution responded only that the investigation was in its initial stages, offering no substantive objection to bail.

Earlier, on July 30, one of the three tribal women allegedly being trafficked publicly stated that the arrested individuals were innocent. She claimed she was threatened by right-wing activists to alter her statement and that the FIR was based solely on their version, while GRP officials ignored her testimony.

The three women were initially placed in a shelter home for three days before being sent back to their families.

Reacting to the bail order, Arun Pannalal, President of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, said, “Bail order announced. A big feast is being arranged at Durg. But this is not enough—criminals must be jailed. the forum will not sit silent.”

Meanwhile, reports from Narayanpur suggest that tribal girls are preparing to file cases against Bajrang Dal activists and Jyoti Sharma, a self-styled Hindu protector named in the original complaint.

Senior Chhattisgarh Police officials declined to comment on the case, while right-wing groups continue to stand by their allegations.