The recent arrest of two Catholic nuns, Sisters Preethi Mary, and Vandana Francis, from Kerala, along with a tribal man, Sukaman Mandav, in Chhattisgarh has sparked widespread outrage, and an ongoing debate over the use of anti-conversion laws in the state. Authorities charged the trio with alleged human trafficking, and religious conversion, but the incident has quickly taken on political, and communal dimensions.
The Government Railway Police arrested the three at Durg railway station on July 25, acting on a complaint from a local Bajrang Dal functionary. He alleged that the group was forcibly converting, and trafficking three tribal girls from Narayanpur.
As news of the arrest spread, protests erupted across Kerala, and Chhattisgarh, with opposition parties criticizing the police action.
Court Grants Bail to Nuns in Ongoing Case
On August 2, 2025, a special NIA court in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, granted conditional bail to the three of them. The court required each accused to furnish a ₹50,000 bond, submit two sureties, and surrender their passports. By granting bail, the court acknowledged that the investigation remained at an early stage, and emphasized the importance of a fair trial.
In contrast, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai dismissed the backlash, accusing critics of politicizing a routine legal matter. After the court granted bail to the arrested, Sai remarked, “It was a legal procedure, and bail has been granted.”
Union Minister George Kurian stated that the bail application was filed too early, before legal steps were complete. He blamed Congress for not acting quickly to help the arrested nuns. Kurian also questioned why Congress MPs, especially from Chhattisgarh, did not join the protests. While he did not comment directly on the conversion charges, he said the court should decide the matter.
Women Deny Claims of Trafficking, and Conversion
Soon after the arrests, one of the women involved denied the allegations, stating she had traveled voluntarily, and faced no coercion. Her family also rejected the police version, claiming the charges lacked merit, and appeared politically motivated. These conflicting accounts have prompted renewed scrutiny of how anti-conversion laws are being applied. In response, legal experts, and civil society groups have called for a thorough, unbiased investigation into the incident.
Furthermore, the three women at the center of the case submitted a formal complaint to the Superintendent of Police in Narayanpur. They alleged that Bajrang Dal activists assaulted them, and coerced them into making false statements against the nuns. In Kerala, the court’s decision to grant bail was met with broad approval. Both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), along with a leading Catholic organization, welcomed the verdict.
According to statements from the women involved, the nuns were accompanying them with the hope of helping them find work. This was primarily in roles such as cooking, cleaning, and other daily tasks within the institution. The women said they had agreed to travel voluntarily, viewing the opportunity as a way to earn a livelihood, and support their families. This understanding of the situation challenges the initial claims of trafficking, and forced conversion, and it played a significant role in the women coming forward to defend the nuns after the arrests.
The Public Response
Meanwhile, the case sparked protests in both Chhattisgarh, and Kerala. Religious organizations, including Catholic Church leaders, publicly welcomed the court’s decision, and urged authorities to ensure due process. Additionally, demonstrators in cities like Kochi, and Thrissur called for protections against the misuse of religious laws, and demanded accountability from those who filed the original complaint.
As the case against the two Kerala nuns moves through the courts, it has raised not just legal questions, but human ones. Families, faith leaders, and communities are watching closely, concerned not only about the individuals involved, but about what this means for others working in remote areas. In the midst of legal procedures, and public debate, many are hoping for fairness, and clarity both in this case, and in how laws are applied moving forward.
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