New Delhi: In a significant political and legal development, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stepped in regarding the controversial arrest of two Malayali Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, providing strong assurance to Kerala parliamentarians that the central and state governments will not oppose their bail plea. The intervention comes amid growing protests and public outcry over the detention of the nuns under false human trafficking charges.
During a meeting with MPs from both the UDF and LDF blocs, Shah conveyed that the Chhattisgarh government has been instructed not to resist the bail process and to actively facilitate it. He emphasized that the case’s sudden transfer to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court by the sessions court was legally flawed. The Home Minister assured that the Chhattisgarh government would move the High Court challenging that transfer order and would simultaneously file a bail petition in the original trial court.
Shah expressed confidence that the nuns would be granted bail either today or tomorrow. He also made it clear that there is no political motive behind the case and promised efforts would be made to quash the charges altogether once bail is secured. The assurance from the Home Minister has been viewed as a direct response to the widespread criticism from Christian organizations, civil society groups, and Kerala’s political leadership.
MP N.K. Premachandran, who was part of the delegation that met Amit Shah, told the media that the Home Minister had taken a sympathetic stance. He said both the state and central governments would take all necessary legal steps to ensure justice. "The sessions court had no authority to transfer the case unilaterally to an NIA court. That act is a gross violation of judicial norms. The state will now work to revoke that transfer through a formal petition," Premachandran added.
The MPs also criticized the judicial overreach involved in bypassing the standard trial process, expressing concern that such procedural irregularities could further erode trust in the legal system. They vowed to continue raising the issue in Parliament until the nuns are released and the case is dismissed.
Shah's comments appear to have brought a glimmer of hope to the nuns’ supporters, who have held protests across the country demanding their immediate release. The case has taken on broader implications, seen not only as a legal battle but also as a test of religious freedom, minority rights, and the government’s accountability in safeguarding citizens from unjust prosecution.
With the Home Minister’s personal assurance and legal action from the Chhattisgarh government expected imminently, the next 24 hours will be critical in determining whether the nuns walk free. Meanwhile, activists and Church leaders continue to call for vigilance, ensuring that justice is not only promised but delivered.