- 29 July, 2025
Raipur, July 28, 2025 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has sparked a political and legal storm after publicly accusing two Catholic nuns from Kerala of human trafficking and forced religious conversion—despite the case still being under investigation and sub-judice.
In a post on social media platform X, Sai stated: “Three daughters of Narayanpur were promised nursing training and jobs. A person from Narayanpur handed them over to two nuns at Durg station, who were taking them to Agra. This appears to be a case of human trafficking under the guise of conversion by luring.”
The Chief Minister’s assertion, which mirrors the contents of the FIR filed by a Bajrang Dal functionary, has been widely criticised as premature and irresponsible. Legal experts and opposition leaders have condemned the remarks, questioning how the head of a state government can publicly pronounce an opinion that effectively assumes the guilt of the accused.
“What the Chief Minister has said is nothing short of a public indictment. He is quoting the FIR as fact and presenting an ongoing investigation as a closed case,” said a senior lawyer from Raipur. “This compromises the principle of a fair trial and puts pressure on the investigating authorities.”
The two nuns—Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis—were arrested on 25 July at Durg Railway Station, along with Sukaman Mandavi. They were reportedly escorting three girls from Narayanpur to Agra for nursing training and employment. The FIR alleges that the girls were being trafficked for conversion, but no independent evidence has yet been presented to support the charge.
Despite this, the Chief Minister went further in his statement, calling the case “serious and sensitive” and saying it “concerns the safety of our daughters.” While also urging that the issue not be politicised, critics point out that it was Sai himself who elevated the matter into the political sphere by endorsing the allegations in a public forum.
Political parties in Kerala—including both the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF—have condemned the arrests and Sai’s comments. CPI(M) MP John Brittas called the case a “blatant misuse of law” and demanded the immediate release of the nuns, writing directly to the CM to express his concern over the erosion of justice.
As the matter remains before the courts, many are now demanding that the Chief Minister retract his statement and allow the legal process to unfold without political interference or bias.
Source: The Hindustan Times
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