Chhattisgarh court grants bail to Kerala nuns in ‘trafficking, conversion’ case

Sisters Preethi Merry, Vandana Francis, and Sukaman Mandavi were arrested by GRP at Durg station on July 25 after a Bajrang Dal member filed a complaint

Updated on: Aug 2, 2025, 14:59:15 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Raipur: A special court in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district on Saturday granted bail to three people, including two Catholic nuns from Kerala, who were arrested on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion.

The three—Sisters Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis from Kerala, and Sukaman Mandavi—were arrested by Government Railway Police (GRP) at Durg railway station on July 25, following a complaint filed by a local Bajrang Dal member.

The court granted conditional bail, including a directive that the accused surrender their passports and not leave the country.

Defence lawyer Amrito Das said the court granted bail on the condition that each accused furnish a bond of ₹50,000 with two sureties, cooperate in the investigation, surrender their passports, and not travel abroad. While there were additional conditions, the final detailed order was still awaited, he said.

Das added that the prosecution had not sought custody of the accused for further interrogation and that the girls in question were sent home.

Also Read: Kerala nuns remain in Chhattisgarh jail after Durg court doesn’t hear bail plea

Principal district and sessions judge (NIA court) Sirajuddin Qureshi had reserved the order on Friday after hearing their bail pleas.

The complaint alleged that the trio was involved in forcibly converting three young women from Narayanpur and trafficking them.

The arrest has triggered a major uproar, with opposition parties including the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), condemning the action and alleging religious targeting.

Also Read: Kerala UDF leaders meet nuns jailed in conversion case in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, however, dismissed the criticism, stating, “It was a legal procedure and bail has been granted in it.”

A delegation from the Kerala unit of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), comprising lawmakers Hibi Eden and Kodikunnil Suresh, visited Chhattisgarh on Friday to meet the arrested nuns. The delegation alleged that the transfer of the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court was a deliberate ploy to delay the bail process.

“There is a conspiracy behind shifting the case to the NIA court. It’s intended to prolong the legal process and keep the nuns behind bars,” said Suresh.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh public prosecutor opposes bail plea of Kerala nuns; order reserved

The delegation said it had also approached the union home minister and written to the Prime Minister regarding the case.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Kamleshwari Pradhan—one of the three women allegedly trafficked—accused Bajrang Dal activists of coercing her into giving a false statement against the nuns. She also alleged that police failed to properly document her version of events and said her family has been practising Christianity for the past four to five years.

The three women approached the Narayanpur district police superintendent’s office on Saturday to file an FIR against Bajrang Dal members.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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