Institute of Legal and Management Studies

A Special NIA Court in Bilaspur granted bail to two Kerala Christian Nuns Preethy Mary and Vandana Francis who were arrested on allegations of unlawful religious conversion and human trafficking of three women from Narayanpur last week by the Chhattisgarh police.

They were arrested from the Durg police station last week on July 25 and have been under judicial custody since then. They were accused of offences under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam, 1968.

Principal District and Sessions Judge (NIA Court) Sirajuddin Qureshi observed in the bail order that the FIR was registered primarily based on a mere apprehension and suspicion of commission of offences by the accused persons. The Court also noted that the petitioners have no criminal antecedents.

In the arrest memo, it was recorded that the petitioners were neither habitual offenders nor fell within the category of dangerous persons. Also, there was no apprehension of absconding noted.

The parents of the three victims filed affidavits stating that the accused persons have not allured or forced or coerced their daughters for religious conversion or human trafficking. The victim girls are also adults. Two of them, in their statement before the police, deposed that they have been followers of Christianity since childhood.

The Court also noted that the investigating agency have not sought their custodial interrogation. No material was placed to show that their continued custody was necessary. Considering these facts, the Court granted them regular bail.

The NIA filed formal objection to the bail application.

The bail was granted subject to the accused executing a bond of Rs.50,000/- each with two sureties for the said amount. They have been directed to deposit their passports with the Court. While on bail, they shall report to the Station House Officer of the jurisdiction they reside every fortnight.

The arrest followed allegations by Bajrang Dal members, who accused them of forcibly converting three girls from Narayanpur and engaging in human trafficking. Their bail application was later moved to the NIA court in Bilaspur after the Durg sessions court declined jurisdiction on the ground that human trafficking was an offence under the schedule of the NIA Act.

The petitioners submitted that three women were voluntarily travelling with the nuns for a job in their institution. They also submitted the statement of the parents of the women who stated that they went with their own consent for the purpose of employment.

Their arrests had led to widespread protests by Opposition political parties and Christian organisations.

Advocate Amrito Das appeared for the petitioners.

Adv Dau Chandravanshi, Spl Prosecutor, appeared for the NIA.

Adv Hemant Kumar Mishra, appeared for the objector Ravi Kadam (informant).

Case Title - Preethy Mary and Ors v State of Chhattisgarh

Case No - Bail Petition 1639/ 2025

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