Two Kerala-based Catholic nuns, Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, were granted bail on August 2, 2025, by the NIA court in Chhattisgarh, following a case that has drawn national attention due to serious allegations of intimidation and police misconduct.

The Arrest and Accusations

Sisters Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis, associated with the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate congregation, were arrested at Durg railway station on July 25, 2025. The arrest followed a complaint by Bajrang Dal activists, who alleged that the nuns were engaged in human trafficking and religious conversion. Along with the sisters, three tribal girls, aged 18–21 and from Narayanpur district, were detained while they were en route to Agra for employment purposes.

The Ordeal of the Tribal Girls and Their Families

Kamleshwari Pradhan, one of the tribal girls, provided a detailed account of the intimidation tactics used against her and her companions, as well as their families:

• Coercion and Threats: Kamleshwari alleged that Jyoti Sharma and Bajrang Dal activists arrived at the police station and instructed the girls to “say what they tell us to say.” She testified that she, along with her friends—who traveled voluntarily—were threatened with jail if they did not comply with the script provided by these activists. The intimidation reportedly took place in full view of police officers, and Kamleshwari claimed they were even slapped and verbally abused during this process.
• Pressure on Families: The families of the girls faced similar intimidation. According to statements from the family members, Jyoti Sharma and others warned them about dire consequences if they contradicted the activists’ narrative. The girls’ parents were pressured to speak against the nuns and the employment plan, despite their knowledge and consent regarding the trip.
• Police Role: The girls stated that the police did not intervene to protect them from harassment. In fact, Kamleshwari alleged that when their statements were officially recorded, the police twisted their words to match the activists’ allegations rather than the truth that the girls wanted to convey.

Details of the Bail

• Bail Order: After spending nine days in custody, the two nuns were granted bail by the special NIA court in Chhattisgarh on August 2, 2025.
• Bail Conditions: The court set stringent terms: each had to furnish a surety bond of ₹50,000, surrender their passports, and were barred from leaving the country without court permission. The nuns must also fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation at all times.
• Court Observations: The defense highlighted that all three girls were legal adults and that there was no evidence—apart from coerced statements—of trafficking or forced conversion. The court acknowledged the weak foundation of the prosecution’s claims when agreeing to grant bail.

Community and Political Response

The case has triggered widespread protests among Christian groups and has been condemned by several political leaders. Congress and other opposition figures accused right-wing groups of abusing the law to target minorities and demanded swift justice for the innocent women and their families. The Church and humanitarian organizations pointed to the nuns’ decades of service and emphasized their dedication to education and healthcare among marginalized populations.

In summary, this case has spotlighted not only the vulnerability of minority service workers in India but also the alarming ease with which intimidation and misinformation can shape major legal actions. Despite strong external pressures and public scrutiny, the judicial process ultimately restored liberty to the two nuns—though not without inflicting trauma on the tribal girls and their families, who stood their ground against orchestrated coercion in the face of police indifference.