Two Kerala nuns walk out of Chhattisgarh jail after eight days

Arrested Kerala nuns granted bail by NIA court in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur

RAIPUR/KOCHI — After spending eight days in jail, two Kerala nuns walked out of Central Jail in Durg, Chhattisgarh, at 3.40 p.m. on Saturday, hours after a special NIA court in Bilaspur granted them bail in a case involving charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion.

Both of them looked tired but had smiles on their faces when they emerged from the jail and hugged their colleagues.

Among those who were waiting outside were Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, lawmakers from Kerala, including Jose K. Mani, John Brittas, Santhosh Kumar, Roji M. John, Anwar Sadath, Chandy Oommen, and a few colleagues of the two nuns.

State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said this bail could have happened three days ago if there had been no political drama.

“Thanks to PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister. Early this week, Church higher-ups got in touch with me seeking help, and then I had said things would be done and it has happened,” said Chandrasekhar.

Due to bail conditions, the nuns did not speak to the waiting media.

The two nuns were escorted in a car by their close relatives, who had travelled from Kerala and were going to a nearby school.

Earlier in the day, Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, both members of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate -- a congregation under the Syro-Malabar Church in Alappuzha district got bail after they were directed to submit a bond of Rs 50,000 each along with two sureties.

They have also been ordered to surrender their passports, not to influence the witnesses, besides having to report to the local police station in Chhattisgarh once every two weeks.

Also read: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio condemns detention of nuns, tribal women in Chhattisgarh

Their ordeal began on July 26 when the two, who were working at a hospital in Agra, were escorting three women from Narayanpur district in Chhattisgarh to Agra for employment as kitchen helpers in a convent. They were stopped at a railway station by Bajrang Dal activists, who alleged forced religious conversion and human trafficking.

Acting on the activists' complaint, police arrested the nuns and a man named Sukhman Mandavi, accusing them of human trafficking and attempted religious.

Mandavi also walked out free.

The two nuns are expected to travel to Kerala first to meet their families before returning to their duties.

Arrested Kerala nuns granted bail by NIA court in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur

Bilaspur/Thiruvananthapuram — The NIA Court in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, on Saturday granted bail to the two Kerala nuns who were arrested last week on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. The court had completed hearing arguments on the bail plea on Friday.

Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, both members of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate -- a congregation under the Syro-Malabar Church in Alappuzha district -- were directed to submit a bond of Rs 50,000 each along with two sureties. They have also been ordered to surrender their passports.

With the court’s decision, the path has been cleared for their release, ending an ordeal that began on July 26. The two had been working at a hospital in Agra and were escorting three women from Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district to the city for employment as kitchen helpers in a convent when they were intercepted by Bajrang Dal activists at a railway station.

Acting on the activists' complaint, police arrested the nuns and a man named Sukhman Mandavi, accusing them of human trafficking and attempted religious conversion.

The case sparked widespread outrage, particularly in Kerala, where the arrests triggered a rare show of unity between the ruling CPI(M)-led Left and the opposition Congress-led UDF. Both political fronts sent delegations to Chhattisgarh, with leaders frequently visiting the nuns in jail and staging protest marches across the state. The issue also found an echo in both Houses of Parliament.

On Saturday, a large contingent of lawmakers from both the Left and UDF were present at the Bilaspur court during the hearing. Congress MLA Roji M. John, who has been in Bilaspur, described the bail as a moment everyone had been waiting for. Jose K. Mani, MP, said the priority now was for the investigation officer to drop all charges against the nuns. The brother of Sister Preeti expressed gratitude to everyone who supported the family during the crisis.

Kerala BJP leaders also claimed credit, with party general secretary Anoop Antony stating their efforts had paid off. State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had been in regular contact with Church leaders and had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for intervention, is expected to reach Bilaspur later in the day.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, whose Lok Sabha constituency includes the sisters' convent, visited authorities on Saturday morning and expressed hope for a resolution. He also met with the inmates and offered words of comfort.

The nuns are expected to walk free shortly. The two sisters will also be allowed to travel freely within the country, as there is no travel ban on them.