US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke was back before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Delhi on Friday, October 23, 2026, after returning to India following a court-approved trip to the United States. The appearance was part of an ongoing case linked to alleged illegal travel to Myanmar and training activity involving ethnic armed groups.
What the court allowed
The court had earlier permitted VanDyke to spend one month in the United States to meet his family, with clear conditions that he return to India, appear before the court, and inform it within 72 hours of arrival. According to the report, he followed those directions and was completing formalities before the court.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma also allowed VanDyke to travel again to the United States and extended permission for the six Ukrainian co-accused to remain outside India until February 24, 2027. The order came after NIA counsel Rahul Tyagi said the agency needed more time to investigate several aspects of the matter.
Arrest and allegations
VanDyke was arrested on March 13, 2026, at Kolkata airport. The six Ukrainian nationals — Hurba Petro, Taras Slyviak, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Marian Stefankiv, Maksim Honcharuk, and Viktor Kaminskyi — were detained at airports in Delhi and Lucknow. The NIA initially booked the group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
According to the agency’s allegations, the seven entered India on tourist visas, travelled to Mizoram without the required protected or restricted area permits, crossed into Myanmar through unauthorised points, and provided training in drone warfare, operations, assembly, and jamming technology to ethnic armed groups. The agency also alleged that drone equipment was moved from Europe. The source says these groups were reportedly linked to networks supporting certain Indian insurgent outfits, which raised national security concerns.
Chargesheet, bail and financial compliance
The NIA filed a chargesheet on September 8, 2026, under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, without invoking UAPA provisions in that filing. On September 18, 2026, a special NIA court granted VanDyke default bail, noting that the chargesheet was incomplete, after he had spent more than 180 days in custody.
He later paid ₹5.5 lakh as compounding charges to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in connection with the immigration violations. The six Ukrainian nationals also received default bail, but they have not returned to India and have been appearing via video conference. Their permission to remain abroad has now been extended until February 24, 2027.
Proceedings continue
Speaking to PTI outside the courtroom, VanDyke questioned why the proceedings were continuing, saying there was “no reason for it to continue” and that he would stay in India if needed until the matter ended. He also said he had removed his lawyer because of financial difficulties and was representing himself.
The NIA has maintained that its investigation under the UAPA continues and that a supplementary chargesheet may follow if further evidence emerges. The probe is examining the role of local facilitators, a wider network, and the use of the Mizoram-Myanmar border. VanDyke, who describes himself as a security analyst and is the founder of Sons of Liberty International, has previously said he is a veteran of the 2011 Libyan revolution, where he was a prisoner of war, and that he has provided training and support in conflict zones including Ukraine.
The case remains under court supervision, with compliance with bail conditions still being monitored while the agency continues its inquiry into the alleged activities.
