The NIA Court in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, has granted bail to Kerala nuns Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, who were arrested on July 26 over allegations of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. Members of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, the two were escorting three women from Chhattisgarh to Agra for employment when Bajrang Dal activists intercepted them, leading to their arrest. The court ordered each nun to submit a ₹50,000 bond, two sureties, and surrender their passports.
The arrests triggered a rare political consensus in Kerala, with both the ruling CPI(M)-led Left and the Congress-led UDF staging protests and sending delegations to Chhattisgarh. Lawmakers from both fronts were present during the bail hearing, while BJP leaders also claimed credit for their release. AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal and BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar were among those who intervened. The nuns are expected to be released soon and can travel freely within India, as no travel restrictions have been imposed.