A Delhi court permits a US citizen, Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, and six Ukrainians arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in March for alleged links to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar, to travel abroad for a month.
In a development that could impact the ongoing investigation into their alleged links with ethnic armed groups hostile to India, a Delhi court on Thursday granted permission to seven foreigners, including Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, a US citizen, and six Ukrainians, who were arrested by the NIA in March for having links to such groups in Myanmar, to travel abroad. The court allowed them to leave India for a month, according to The Hindu.
The arrests of these individuals took place on March 13. They had been accused of supplying weapons and military equipment to ethnic armed groups operating in Myanmar, as well as providing them with training.
On September 8, the NIA filed a chargesheet against them for illegal entry, stay, and movement in India under the 2025 Immigration and Foreigners Act. Despite their arrest under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, the agency only accused them of immigration violations in the chargesheet.
Investigators alleged that they entered India on valid visas but later traveled to Mizoram without the mandatory restricted area permit and were accused of entering Myanmar and meeting ethnic groups hostile to India. Officials also claimed that the individuals received drone deliveries from Europe while in Mizoram.
The court has directed the seven foreigners to assist the NIA’s investigation whenever required, either by appearing in person or through video conference, and to provide their addresses and phone numbers. They have been asked to return to India after one month and inform the court of their return within 72 hours.
Source:
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