Raipur: The two Kealite nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis now face serious criminal charges under the FIR registered by state authorities. The case includes allegations of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, both of which are non-bailable and carry a maximum sentence of up to ten years in prison under the state’s legal framework.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 8:30 am, was officially registered by police only at 5:11 pm raising questions over procedural delay. Sister Preethi has been listed as the first accused, with Sister Vandana as the second.
Currently lodged in Durg District Jail following a court remand, the nuns have not moved for bail yet. Given the gravity of the charges and the non-bailable nature of the sections invoked, legal experts say that the court’s stance in the coming days will play a decisive role in determining their fate.
Adding complexity to the case, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has summoned the parents of the young women who were accompanying the nuns for questioning. Authorities are also closely watching the testimonies of the minors involved amid reports that one of the children has altered their initial statement. If additional witnesses retract or change their statements, the legal situation could become even more precarious for the arrested nuns.
The developments have triggered widespread concern and protests among Christian communities and human rights advocates, who have condemned the charges as exaggerated and politically motivated. As the case unfolds, demands for judicial transparency and protection of constitutional rights for religious minorities have grown louder across the country.