August 2, 2025: A special NIA court in Chhattisgarh has granted conditional bail to two Kerala nuns and a male companion who were arrested on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion last week. Principal District and Sessions Judge Sirajuddin Qureshi ordered the release of Sisters Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, along with tribal youth Sukaman Mandavi, on the condition that they furnish a bond of Rs 50,000 each and surrender their passports.
The three were arrested on July 25 at the Durg railway station following a complaint from a local Bajrang Dal functionary. The complaint alleged that they were attempting to traffic and convert three tribal girls.
The defense lawyer, Amrito Das, successfully argued that the charges were “absolutely baseless.” Das presented statements from the girls’ parents, who confirmed their daughters were already practicing Christianity for several years. The girls themselves, who are adults, stated they were traveling voluntarily to Agra for work, negating any claims of human trafficking.
The arrest had previously ignited widespread protests in Kerala, drawing sharp criticism from church leaders and political parties, including the CPM. Leaders like Brinda Karat and MP John Brittas hailed the court’s decision as a “victory of the Constitution” and a “big victory for tribals,” while demanding action against the complainants. The case also created a visible rift between the BJP units in Kerala and Chhattisgarh, with the Kerala BJP chief stating the arrests were a “misunderstanding.”