Legal Hurdles Stall Bail for Nuns in Human Trafficking Case

A sessions court in Chhattisgarh's Durg district faced a jurisdictional challenge over a bail application involving two Catholic nuns and another individual accused of human trafficking and illegal conversion. The court ruled that it cannot adjudicate the pleas, directing the accused to a special court under the National Investigation Agency Act for potential relief.

Nuns Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis, along with Sukaman Mandavi, were initially detained by Government Railway Police on charges of forcibly converting and trafficking three women from the tribal regions. A local Bajrang Dal activist lodged the complaint leading to their arrest.

The nuns' legal representatives argue there was no forced conversion, as the women were already Christians, seeking employment due to economic hardship. The court indicated that special courts with authority over such cases, in districts like Bilaspur and Raipur, should be approached for such bail applications.

(With inputs from agencies.)