No bail for jailed nuns as Chhattisgarh court cites jurisdiction issues
In his order, Additional Sessions Judge Anish Dubey cited Section 11 of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 to point out the jurisdiction issue and ordered the applicants — nuns Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis, and Sukman Mandavi — to move a special court for relief.
The court noted that Section 2(1)(g) of the NIA Act, 2008 contains a separate Schedule that includes Section 370 of the now abolished Indian Penal Code, 1860. It further added that Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023 [that the applicants are accused of violating] pertains to 'trafficking of a person' which is similar to Section 370 IPC. Citing Chhattisgarh government orders to list courts that have been given the jurisdiction to hear such cases in different divisions, it said that the applicants move the designated court.
Also Read | Catholic rites hold united protest against arrest of nuns in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh
Earlier, the applicants submitted that they were accused on the basis of mere suspicion. The application also said due to poverty and lack of employment, the three girls were going to Agra voluntarily to work and learn work. The girls were already followers of Christianity and, hence, there was no question of their conversion, the application added.
The bail was opposed by the Public Prosecutor, who submitted that since Section 143 of the Indian Penal Code was imposed on the accused, 'this court has no jurisdiction to hear the bail application'.
The nuns and Ms. Mandavi were arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh on July 25 following a complaint by a local Bajrang Dal functionary, who accused them of forcibly converting three women from the State's tribal-dominated Narayanpur district and trafficking them. The issue has triggered protests from political parties across the spectrum in the nuns' native State of Kerala.
Brinda Karat meets nuns
Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) met the two nuns at the Durg Central Jail in Chhattisgarh following which she called the arrests 'unconstitutional and illegal', and demanded their immediate release.
Ms. Karat also held a press conference in Raipur where she said that the allegations against the nuns were false.
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