Nuns granted bail, but legal tangle remains; NIA's stand will be crucial

NEW DELHI: Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis, two Malayali nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh on serious charges of forced religious conversion and human trafficking, were released from jail on the ninth day. Special Judge Sirajuddin Qureshi, while granting them bail, pointed out that the FIR was based on suspicion and this was also clear from the case diary.

The nuns were released from Durg Central Jail at 3:38 PM, where they were welcomed not only by their close relatives and fellow nuns but also by representatives from Kerala.

However, with the case now brought under the consideration of the NIA court, the legal proceedings are likely to be prolonged. The charge of human trafficking was added mainly to bring the case under the NIA’s jurisdiction. The agency has not yet conducted its own investigation or filed an FIR. A preliminary inquiry may still be done, even if it is only to prove there is no merit to the case.

As part of their bail conditions, the Bilaspur NIA Special Court has directed that the nuns must provide their address to the NIA investigating officer. They must also report to the police station every two weeks.

Along with the nuns, an Adivasi youth named Sukhman Mandavi—who was also in remand—was granted bail yesterday under similar conditions. The court considered the fact that the investigation agency had not requested custody and that neither the nuns nor the youth had any criminal background.

The affidavit submitted by the girls’ parents, stating there was no forced religious conversion or human trafficking, was also taken into account. The two girls told police they had been Christians since childhood.

Bail conditions

1. The nuns must provide their address to the NIA officer and cooperate with the investigation.
2. They must report to the Durg-Bhilai Railway Police Station every two weeks.
3. They must submit their passports to the court and not leave the country without prior permission.
4. Avoid making any statements to the media about the case. Furnish two sureties and a bond of ₹50,000.

Possibility of case being dropped

The Christian church leadership may approach the Chhattisgarh High Court or even the Supreme Court seeking the cancellation of the FIR. If the investigating officer at the Durg-Bhilai Railway Police Station submits a written report dropping the case, it can be dismissed, but this decision rests with the Chhattisgarh government.

When the bail plea came before the NIA special court, the NIA’s special prosecutor, Davu Chandravanshi, reportedly adopted a softer stance due to pressure from the central government.