Indian court acquits Missionaries of Charity nun after 8-year child trafficking case, Church leaders hail verdict as “truth vindicated.”
Newsroom (22/06/2026 Gaudium Press ) An Indian court has acquitted a Missionaries of Charity nun and her co-accused in a high-profile child trafficking case, bringing to a close an eight-year legal battle that Church leaders say was built on “false narratives” and has now been decisively overturned.
The ruling was delivered on June 18 by the court of Additional Judicial Commissioner Shailendra Kumar in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state. The court cleared Sister Concelia Baxla and Anima Inderwar of all charges, citing a lack of evidence in the prosecution’s case.
In its 11-page order, the court noted that “the prosecution did not succeed in proving the charge leveled against them.” It also observed that there was no evidence identifying any victim of fraud, as “the victim has not been examined,” raising serious questions about the foundation of the allegations.
A Case Rooted in Allegation
The case dates back to July 2018, when Sister Baxla, then 61 years old and suffering from diabetes, was arrested. At the time, she was the head of Nirmal Hriday (meaning “tender heart”), a home for unmarried mothers operated by the Missionaries of Charity in Ranchi.
The arrest followed a complaint by a childless couple who claimed that Inderwar, a staff member at the home, had accepted money after promising to facilitate the adoption of a baby but failed to do so. The allegation quickly escalated into a case of suspected child trafficking, drawing national attention and scrutiny.
Sister Baxla spent 14 months in jail following her arrest—an experience Church officials now describe as deeply unjust, given the court’s findings.
Church Leaders Respond
Catholic Church leaders in India have welcomed the ruling, describing it as a long-overdue affirmation of innocence.
Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas of the Daltonganj diocese said the verdict reinforces what Church representatives had maintained from the outset. “Truth is vindicated amid so much lies and false narratives against the MC nuns who have dedicated their lives to serving humanity, especially those abandoned and uncared for,” he said.
Mascarenhas added that the case reflected a broader attempt to undermine the work of the Missionaries of Charity, the globally recognized religious congregation founded by St. Mother Teresa in 1950.
“The court order has exposed how she and her associate were trapped in a totally false case to target the good work done by their congregation,” he said.
Another Church official, speaking on condition of anonymity, echoed this sentiment, stating that a careful reading of the judgment indicates the accusations were part of a “planned move” to implicate the nun and damage the institution’s reputation.
Political and Institutional Context
The case unfolded during a period when Jharkhand was governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a pro-Hindu political party led nationally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While no direct political link to the case has been legally established, some Church representatives have suggested that the climate at the time contributed to heightened scrutiny of Christian institutions.
The controversy also had ripple effects beyond the courtroom. In December 2021, India’s Federal Ministry of Home Affairs declined to renew the Missionaries of Charity’s license to receive foreign funding, citing unspecified “adverse inputs.” The decision sparked widespread criticism and concern from both domestic and international observers.
Following significant public outcry—including reactions from abroad—the government restored the license within a month, allowing the organization to continue its humanitarian work.
A Global Mission Under Scrutiny
The Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa in Kolkata, is one of the most prominent Catholic religious orders in the world, known for its service to the poor, sick, and marginalized. Today, the congregation operates in more than 770 houses globally, with roughly 5,000 nuns. India remains a major center of its activities, with 243 houses across the country.
The acquittal of Sister Baxla has been seen by Church leaders as not only a personal vindication but also a broader reaffirmation of the congregation’s integrity and mission.
Looking Ahead
While the court’s decision has brought relief to those accused, it also raises lingering concerns about the legal process and the consequences of prolonged accusations without substantiated evidence.
For Sister Baxla, the ruling closes a chapter marked by imprisonment, reputational damage, and years of uncertainty. For the Catholic Church in India, it marks what leaders describe as the eventual triumph of truth over what they consider an unfounded and damaging case.
As the Missionaries of Charity continue their work among society’s most vulnerable, the case may serve as a reminder of both the resilience of institutions under scrutiny and the enduring need for accountability in the pursuit of justice.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
Related Images:
