Kerala Nuns Granted Bail in Chhattisgarh ‘Conversion and Trafficking’ Case
Issued by: All India Council of Human Rights, Liberties and Social Justice (AICHLS)
Led by: Dr. Anthony Raju, Advocate, Supreme Court of India
*Chairman – AICHLS | Date: 1 August 2025

In a notable development, the local court in Chhattisgarh has granted bail to Sisters Preeti Marry and Vandana Francis—Catholic nuns from Kerala—and co-accused Sukhman Mandavi, who were arrested last Friday at Durg railway station. They were falsely implicated in a case filed under the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, based on a complaint by a local Bajrang Dal worker.

The court, after reviewing the available facts, observed that continued judicial custody was unwarranted.
Their advocate, Mr. Amrito Das, stated:

“The learned judge rightly observed there was no legal basis to prolong their detention and granted them bail.”

Questionable FIR and Witness Intimidation
One of the three tribal women allegedly involved has gone on record stating she was threatened and physically coerced by individuals linked to a right-wing organization to falsely accuse the nuns of conversion and trafficking. She also alleged that the FIR was influenced by statements made by members of the Bajrang Dal and not by free testimony.

AICHLS Calls for Accountability
Under the leadership of Dr. Anthony Raju, the All India Council of Human Rights strongly condemns the increasing misuse of legal provisions to target minority communities, missionaries, and women working in grassroots service. The Council views this bail order as a partial restoration of legal balance but insists that:

The misuse of the Freedom of Religion law must be legally challenged.
There should be independent investigation into the threats faced by the tribal women.
Law enforcement must be held accountable for acting on politically motivated complaints without proper evidence.

Our Next Legal and Advocacy Steps
AICHLS will be submitting complaints to the National Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Women regarding the procedural lapses and harassment.
A dedicated legal monitoring team has been assigned to track the case progress.
A fact-finding report is under preparation and will be shared with national and international human rights organizations.

Statement by Dr. Anthony Raju
“This is not just a legal issue—it’s a matter of fundamental rights, religious freedom, and protection of women in service. We stand with the innocent and demand that truth prevails over propaganda. No one should be criminalized for their faith, compassion, or humanitarian work.”

For Legal Support and Human Rights Assistance
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