18 September,2026 07:33 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The court directed Matthew VanDyke to stay in Delhi and remain available for investigation as and when called by the Investigating Officer. PIC/@InqalabNewsIN on X
The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi on Friday granted default bail to US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke in a case lodged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) over allegations of training ethnic armed groups in Myanmar, news agency ANI reported.
The NIA has filed a charge sheet against seven foreign nationals without invoking sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). VanDyke, who was arrested on March 13, sought default bail on the ground that the UAPA offences had not been invoked in the charge sheet recently filed against him and six Ukrainian nationals.
Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma granted bail to VanDyke on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and one surety in the like amount.
The court's detailed order is yet to be passed. Thereafter, the formalities of filing the bail bond and surety bond will be completed.
The court directed VanDyke to stay in Delhi and remain available for investigation as and when called by the Investigating Officer. He was also directed to furnish details of his Delhi residence.
Advocate Rohit Dandriyal and Rohit Gour appeared for VanDyke, while Special Public Prosecutor Rahul Tyagi, along with Jatin Khatri, appeared for the NIA.
The court said that the six Ukrainian nationals also have a right to seek bail if they file bail applications.
VanDyke has also moved a plea seeking permission to travel abroad. The application will be heard on Tuesday.
The NIA on September 8 filed a charge sheet in the Rouse Avenue court. However, sections related to the UAPA have not been invoked in the charge sheet. The investigation in this regard is ongoing. The NIA may file a supplementary charge sheet if an offence is made out under the UAPA, the agency's SPP had said.
The NIA has invoked Sections 21 and 23 of the Foreigners Act, which are compoundable offences at the level of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), counsel for the accused had said.
The court had listed the charge sheet for consideration on October 1.
The seven accused were arrested in March in a case concerning allegations of training ethnic armed groups in Myanmar that were inimical to India's national security. The accused are Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a US citizen, and Ukrainian nationals Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim and Kaminskyi Viktor.
They were remanded in NIA custody for 11 days on March 17.
The accused were arrested for allegedly supporting ethnic armed groups in Myanmar by supplying weapons, terrorist hardware and training them. They were arrested in a case lodged under Section 18 of the UAPA, relating to terror conspiracy, and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
While seeking remand, the NIA alleged that the accused persons, during custody, would also show that they were in direct touch with and abetted the terrorist or illegal activities of unknown terrorists carrying AK-47 rifles.
The NIA had also alleged that the accused, linked with ethnic armed groups, were supporting certain proscribed Indian insurgent groups by supplying weapons, terrorist hardware and training them. The agency said these aspects affected the national security and interests of India.
While granting 11 days' remand, the court had said, "So, it is not the situation that the FIR does not make a whisper about illegal acts being done by accused persons against national security and interests of India. In other words, Section 18 of UA(P)A is broadly attracted."
The NIA had arrested three Ukrainian nationals from Delhi, three from Lucknow, and one US citizen from Kolkata.
The agency had alleged that the accused came to India on visas and then entered Mizoram, which is a protected area. Thereafter, they allegedly entered Myanmar and contacted ethnic armed groups.
It was also alleged by the NIA that they trained in Myanmar and were training ethnic armed groups associated with insurgent groups in India. The agency further alleged that they brought a huge consignment of drones from Europe via India.
(With ANI inputs)
