LDF leaders blocked from meeting arrested nuns in Chhattisgarh

When LDF leaders Brinda Karat, Annie Raja, and MPs K Radhakrishnan, A A Rahim, Jose K Mani, and P P Suneer arrived at Durg Central Jail in Chhattisgarh to meet the arrested nuns, they were stopped by jail authorities Photo: P V Sujith

Web desk

Published on Jul 29, 2025, 06:01 PM | 2 min read

Raipur: Jail authorities in Chhattisgarh denied entry to LDF leaders, including Members of Parliament, who arrived at Durg Central Jail to meet the arrested nuns. Among those denied permission were Brinda Karat, Annie Raja, and MPs K Radhakrishnan, A A Rahim, Jose K Mani, and P P Suneer. The jail officials claimed that the visiting hours were over and said the meeting could be arranged the following day.

“The arrest of the nuns is part of the BJP-RSS Hindutva agenda. It is a deliberate attack on the Constitution aimed at persecuting minorities in the country. This struggle will continue, not just for the Christian community but for all sections of society who are oppressed and believe in the Indian Constitution,” said senior CPI M leader Brinda Karat. She added that the delegation would attempt to meet the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh tomorrow.

MP Jose K Mani stated that the demand is not merely for bail but for the FIR itself to be quashed.

The bail plea of Sister Preethy Mary and Sister Vandana Francis has been rejected, and both will continue to remain in custody at Durg Central Jail. Their lawyer stated that a fresh bail application would be filed in the Sessions Court in the coming days.

The two nuns face serious charges that could lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Sister Preethy Mary has been named as the first accused, while Sister Vandana Francis is the second accused in the case.

The charges include forced religious conversion (under Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act), human trafficking (under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), and anti-national activity (under Section 152 of the BNS). The initial FIR did not include the forced conversion charge. However, following pressure from Bajrang Dal activists, both the religious conversion and anti-national activity charges were later added.