US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke returned to India and appeared before the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court complex on Friday, October 23, 2026, in connection with a case involving allegations of illegal travel to Myanmar and training of ethnic armed groups.
The court had earlier permitted VanDyke to travel to the United States for one month to meet his family, subject to the conditions that he return to India, appear before the court, and inform it within 72 hours of arrival. He complied with these 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 followed submissions by NIA counsel Rahul Tyagi that the agency required additional time to investigate several aspects of the case. Speaking to PTI outside the courtroom, VanDyke questioned the continuation of proceedings, stating there was “no reason for it to continue” and that he would remain in India if necessary until the matter concluded. He further noted that he had removed his lawyer due to financial difficulties and was representing himself.
VanDyke was arrested on March 13, 2026, at Kolkata airport, along with six Ukrainian nationals—Hurba Petro, Taras Slyviak, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Marian Stefankiv, Maksim Honcharuk, and Viktor Kaminskyi—who were detained at airports in Delhi and Lucknow. The NIA initially booked them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The agency alleged that the seven had entered India on tourist visas, travelled to Mizoram without the mandatory 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. These groups were reportedly linked to networks that support certain Indian insurgent outfits, raising national security concerns. The accused were also alleged to have facilitated the movement of drone equipment from Europe.
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 document. A special NIA court granted VanDyke default bail on September 18, 2026, observing that the chargesheet was incomplete, after he had spent over 180 days in custody. He subsequently paid ₹5.5 lakh as compounding charges to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in connection with the immigration violations. The six Ukrainian nationals, who were also granted default bail, have not returned to India and appeared via video conference; the court extended their permission to remain abroad until February 24, 2027.
The NIA has maintained that its investigation under the UAPA continues, with the possibility of a supplementary chargesheet if further evidence emerges. The probe is examining the role of local facilitators, a wider network, and the use of the porous Mizoram-Myanmar border. VanDyke, a self-described security analyst and founder of Sons of Liberty International, has previously stated that he is a veteran of the 2011 Libyan revolution (where he was a prisoner of war) and has provided training and support in conflict zones including Ukraine.
The case remains ongoing, with the court monitoring compliance with bail conditions and the agency continuing its inquiry into the alleged activities.
