Prosecution relents in Chhattisgarh nun case, bail order expected today

NEW DELHI: Two Malayali nuns, arrested in Chhattisgarh on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, are likely to get bail after the prosecution, despite opposing their bail plea in the Bilaspur NIA court, failed to present strong arguments. Principal Sessions Judge Sirajuddin Qureshi is expected to deliver the verdict today. Sisters Vandana and Preethi have been in jail for nine days.

Appearing for the nuns, Advocate Amruthodas argued that the three girls who accompanied the nuns had gone with parental consent, and presented consent letters as evidence. He also pointed out that the girls were Christians by faith. The prosecution raised no objections to this argument, stating only that the investigation was still at a preliminary stage.

The bail application was referred to the NIA court at the prosecution’s request, which meant they were technically bound to oppose bail. However, unlike in the magistrate and sessions courts, where the prosecution had strongly opposed bail earlier, no such strong opposition was made this time.

Previously, when the defence had argued in lower courts that the girls went with parental consent, the prosecution had countered by citing human trafficking charges and highlighting provisions under Chhattisgarh’s anti-forced conversion law to refute claims of voluntary religious practice.

The BJP’s stance reportedly softened after facing backlash in Kerala, where the Christian community, led by priests, staged protests. The BJP’s central leadership instructed the Chhattisgarh government to review its position.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured Kerala MPs that the government would not oppose the bail plea. Despite the case being routed through the NIA court, Shah clarified that the case did not fall under NIA jurisdiction, creating confusion. Initially, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India considered approaching the High Court, but fearing delays, they filed for bail in the NIA court instead.

Meeting with PM

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament yesterday to discuss the arrest of the nuns.
• Sources say strategies to pacify the Bajrang Dal, which lodged the initial complaint, were also reviewed, along with the political implications of shifting positions after supporting the lower court proceedings.
• This shift in political approach is seen as one reason why the prosecution avoided strongly contesting the bail plea.