Despite prior assurances from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and senior BJP leadership, the Chhattisgarh government has formally opposed the bail plea of two Malayali nuns — Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis — in the NIA court at Bilaspur. The highly anticipated verdict is scheduled for tomorrow.
During the hearing, the prosecution argued that the investigation is still underway, and bail at this stage could hinder proceedings. The court also summoned the case diary to evaluate the merits of the plea.
This stance directly contradicts earlier claims that the central government would not oppose bail, a promise reportedly made by Amit Shah to a delegation of Kerala MPs. BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar had also stated that both PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah were committed to supporting the nuns’ release.
However, a lower sessions court had already rejected their plea earlier this week, citing lack of jurisdiction and directing the nuns to approach the NIA court instead.
The two nuns were arrested in Durg on serious charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. Young women who were with them were also detained. Adding to the controversy, there were allegations of vigilante-style questioning by Bajrang Dal activists.
The Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, the religious order to which the nuns belong, have denied all allegations, clarifying that no conversion took place, and the young women were traveling with full parental consent.
With political implications and religious sensitivities at stake, all eyes are now on the NIA court, whose verdict could significantly influence how such cases are handled in the future.