Matthew Aaron VanDyke Reappears Before Delhi NIA Court After US Visit in Myanmar Training Case

US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke returned to India on Friday, October 23, 2026, and appeared before the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court complex in a case linked to alleged illegal travel to Myanmar and training provided to ethnic armed groups.

VanDyke’s appearance came after the court had earlier allowed him to travel to the United States for one month to meet his family, subject to strict conditions: he was required to return to India, appear before the court, and inform it within 72 hours of his arrival. He complied with those directions and was completing formalities before the court.

Special Judge Prashant Sharma also permitted VanDyke to travel again to the United States and extended the permission granted to the six Ukrainian co-accused to remain outside India until February 24, 2027. The order was passed after NIA counsel Rahul Tyagi told the court that the agency needed more time to investigate several aspects of the case.

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 remain in India if needed until the matter was concluded. He also said he had removed his lawyer because of 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, or UAPA.

According to the agency’s allegations, the seven 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 allegedly linked to networks supporting 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. On September 18, 2026, a special NIA court granted VanDyke default bail, observing 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 were also granted default bail, but they have not returned to India and have been appearing via video conference. The court extended their permission to remain abroad until February 24, 2027.

The NIA has said its investigation under the UAPA is still continuing and that it may file 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, 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 the court monitoring compliance with bail conditions while the agency continues its inquiry into the alleged activities.