Durg (Chhattisgarh) [India], August 13 (HBTV): Two Kerala-based nuns arrested on charges of human trafficking and religious conversion were released from jail on Saturday after being granted bail by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court.

Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajeev Chandrasekhar received the nuns outside Durg Jail. CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar and other leaders were also present.

The case against the nuns was filed under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967. Advocate Gopa Kumar, representing them, said, “We argued that Section 143 of BNS does not apply to this case. The court has granted them bail with conditions, including that they cannot leave India, and each must furnish a bail bond of ₹50,000.”

An advocate for the NIA confirmed the conditional bail, stating that the order includes restrictions such as not influencing the investigation. “We have received the court order and will study it in detail,” the counsel said.

The bail plea was heard by a special NIA court in Bilaspur on Friday, which reserved its decision for Saturday. The defence maintained there was no material evidence to prove the allegations of forcible conversion or trafficking.

The nuns were arrested on July 25 at Durg Railway Station.

Following their release, Congress Kerala MLA Roji Mullanmadakkal John called the case “false” and politically motivated, saying, “After nine days, the two innocent nuns have got bail. We have been waiting for this from the beginning.”

Congress MP Jebi Mather also welcomed the decision, alleging that the case exposed the “divisive agenda” of BJP and its affiliates.

(ANI)