Nuns Granted Bail in Chhattisgarh Conversion-Trafficking Case, Walk Free

A special NIA court in Bilaspur on Saturday granted conditional bail to two Catholic nuns and a tribal youth arrested in a high-profile case of alleged religious conversion and human trafficking.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

The court observed that the accused had no prior criminal history and ordered their release on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each, subject to strict conditions, including surrendering their passports and not leaving the country without prior court approval.

The accused, Sisters Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis, walked out of the Central Jail in Durg, Chhattisgarh, at 3.40 p.m. on Saturday, after spending eight days in custody.

The two, along with a youth, Sukhman Mandavi, were taken into custody on 25 July at Durg railway station following a complaint by Bajrang Dal members.

The latter had alleged that the three were coercing tribal girls from Narayanpur into converting to Christianity and were attempting to transport them out of the state under false pretenses.

Initially detained by the Railway Protection Force in Durg, the case was referred to the National Investigation Agency after the Durg Sessions Court declined to proceed, citing lack of territorial jurisdiction.