Thiruvananthapuram: A wave of emotion swept through Sister Preeti Mary’s family as the news broke the two Keralite nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh on controversial charges of forced conversion and human trafficking were granted bail by the NIA court in Bilaspur. Sister Preeti’s family, who had been battling sleepless nights and heavy uncertainty for the past nine days, broke down in tears, thanking God and all those who stood with them through the storm.
“We are relieved. This is a moment of peace after days of anxiety,” said a family member, overcome with emotion. “We thank all administrators, MLAs, and church leaders who stood by us like a wall. This was not just our battle it was a collective resistance against injustice.”
Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, members of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Assisi congregation, were arrested on July 25 by the Railway Police in Durg, Chhattisgarh. They were accused of trafficking and attempting religious conversion while accompanying three young girls an allegation widely condemned as baseless by Christian leaders and human rights organizations.
The family reiterated their belief that the case was fabricated. “Every political leader, regardless of party lines, stood with us. That unity gave us strength. We only hope this case is dismissed quickly. These innocent sisters don’t deserve to go through more pain,” they added.
The bail order was issued by the Bilaspur NIA court after hearing arguments from both sides. The prosecution repeated its previous claims that the investigation was still in its early stages and that bail would allow the nuns to allegedly continue their missionary activities. However, the defense countered that the sisters had no criminal background and had a lifelong record of service, not subversion. The court sided with the defense, granting bail while mandating the submission of two sureties of ₹50,000 each and the deposit of their passports.
Opposition to the bail plea was strong, not just from the Chhattisgarh government but also from lawyers representing the Bajrang Dal, who had aggressively pushed the conversion narrative in court.
Despite the weight of the accusations, the families of both nuns never wavered. And today, as the gates of uncertainty finally opened, their tears were no longer of fear but of relief, gratitude, and the hope that truth would finally prevail.