Kerala Nuns Granted Bail After Arrest In Chhattisgarh For Alleged Forced Conversion And Trafficking

Two Catholic nuns from Kerala were granted bail on Saturday by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Bilaspur, a day after their arrest at Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh sparked a legal and political storm. The nuns - identified as Preeti Marry and Vandana Francis - were detained along with a third individual, Sukaman Mandavi, based on allegations of forced religious conversion and human trafficking.

The arrest on July 25 stemmed from a complaint filed by a local Bajrang Dal activist. The FIR accused the trio of attempting to forcibly convert three women from Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district and trafficking them.

The legal proceedings invoked provisions under both the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, laws intended to prevent coerced religious conversions and protect against exploitation.

Bail and Jurisdiction Dispute

Initially, a lower sessions court had denied bail, citing jurisdictional limitations and directing the case to the NIA court in Bilaspur. On Saturday, the NIA court overturned the earlier decision and granted bail to all three accused. The bail hearing and its outcome have drawn national attention due to the sensitive nature of the allegations and the growing tensions over religious conversions in India.

Broader Implications

The arrests have ignited debates over religious freedom and anti-conversion laws, particularly in tribal-dominated and communally sensitive areas. Allegations of forced conversion - often filed by right-wing groups - have become more frequent in recent years, raising concerns among civil society groups about misuse of such laws and targeting of minority communities.

This case adds to a broader, ongoing conversation about the intersection of religious liberty, state legislation, and human rights in India's pluralistic society.