Bilaspur: The legal uncertainty surrounding the arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala deepened on Friday as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Bilaspur directed that the police produce the case diary before it can proceed with considering bail petitions. Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethi Mary, both accused under sections related to human trafficking and forced religious conversion, continue to remain in judicial custody following their arrest at the Durg Railway Station on July 22.
Earlier this week, a sessions court in Durg had rejected their bail applications, citing lack of jurisdiction in the case now under NIA purview. The court directed the accused to move their bail plea before the Bilaspur NIA court, which handles special cases related to terrorism, national security, and other serious offenses, including those investigated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The transfer of the case to the NIA court, however, has not yet yielded progress. On Friday, the court noted that it could not consider the bail plea without examining the complete case diary and investigation file, which the local authorities in Durg have yet to submit. The delay in transferring the essential documentation has effectively put the brakes on any immediate legal relief for the nuns.
Legal sources indicate that the absence of the case diary may reflect either administrative backlog or procedural ambiguity in transitioning a sensitive case between local police and a central investigative agency. Regardless, the delay has triggered growing concern among legal experts and Christian community leaders, who have been calling for the accused to receive a fair and speedy judicial hearing.
The case has taken on a political dimension, with representatives from Kerala traveling to Chhattisgarh to meet with authorities and legal teams. Opposition MPs and Christian leaders have condemned the arrests as excessive and legally unsound, particularly in the absence of clear evidence presented to the public.
Adding fuel to the fire, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian criticized the Congress-led Chhattisgarh government, stating that “only the BJP is actively intervening to ensure justice is served.” Kurian also alleged that the entire case appeared to be politically motivated and handled with procedural carelessness.
Meanwhile, church authorities and Christian organizations across India have reiterated that the arrests of the nuns who were allegedly accompanying minor girls for an educational and spiritual retreat were the result of prejudice and misinformation. Several have voiced concern that the misuse of anti-conversion laws is creating a chilling effect on legitimate missionary and educational work conducted by religious institutions.
The NIA court has not yet specified when the case diary is expected, but it is widely anticipated that once the documents are submitted, the formal bail petitions will be filed and heard without further delay. Legal experts suggest that the case's sensitive nature, involving both trafficking and religious conversion allegations, makes it imperative for courts to closely examine the investigation record before ruling.
Until then, Sisters Vandana and Preethi remain in judicial custody, with no clarity on when they might be released or granted relief. Their supporters, meanwhile, continue to press both politically and legally to ensure the matter is resolved through due process.
As the case unfolds, it has become a flashpoint in the national debate on religious freedom, minority rights, and the limits of law enforcement under anti-conversion statutes, particularly in regions where communal sensitivities run high.