Archive · 26 Sep 2026
Delhi Court Lets Seven Foreign Nationals Travel Home
A Delhi court allowed seven foreign nationals to travel home for one month.
Matthew Aaron Van Dyke can travel to the United States, while six Ukrainians can travel to Ukraine.
They were arrested in March in a case investigated by India’s National Investigation Agency.
The agency says they traveled through Mizoram into Myanmar and helped armed groups with drones and training.
The first chargesheet focused on alleged immigration violations, not charges under India’s anti-terror law.
The NIA says its investigation into possible UAPA offences is still continuing.
The court said their immediate presence was not needed.
The seven must help investigators when asked, including by video call.
They must return to India after one month and report their return within 72 hours.
A Delhi court allowed Matthew Aaron Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals to travel to the United States and Ukraine for one month.
The seven were arrested on March 13, 2026, in an NIA investigation involving alleged links to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.
The NIA alleges they entered Myanmar through Mizoram, supplied drones and military equipment, and provided drone-warfare training.
The NIA’s September 8 chargesheet cited immigration violations, while its investigation into alleged UAPA offences remains ongoing.
They must share contact details, assist the NIA, return to India after one month and report their return within 72 hours.
- Who
- United States citizen Matthew Aaron Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals arrested by the National Investigation Agency.
- What
- A Delhi court permitted the seven accused to travel to the United States and Ukraine for one month to meet their families.
- When
- The travel order was issued on September 24, 2026; the arrests took place on March 13, 2026.
- Where
- The case is before a special NIA court at Rouse Avenue in Delhi; the accused may travel to the United States and Ukraine.
- Why
- The accused sought to meet families they said they had not seen for nearly 10 months, while the court found that their immediate physical presence was not required and imposed conditions to ensure their availability.
NIA Allegations
Accused Persons’ Position And Court Findings
Activities in Myanmar
NIA Allegations
The NIA alleges that the seven traveled through Mizoram into Myanmar without required documents or permits, received or supplied European drones and other equipment, and trained Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups in drone warfare.
Accused Persons’ Position And Court Findings
The accused sought permission to travel to their home countries to meet their families and indicated that they would cooperate with the investigation. The allegations remain under investigation.
Status of the case
NIA Allegations
The NIA says its investigation into alleged UAPA offences is continuing and could lead to a supplementary chargesheet. It has also said more time was needed to establish the full facts concerning drones and accessories allegedly imported and recovered through India.
Accused Persons’ Position And Court Findings
The first chargesheet invoked immigration provisions rather than UAPA charges. The court granted default bail, and reports state that the immigration offences were compounded or discharged after penalties were imposed.
Permission to travel
NIA Allegations
Because the NIA investigation is ongoing, the accused must remain available for questioning and other investigative requirements.
Accused Persons’ Position And Court Findings
The court held that their immediate physical presence was not required, treated the right to travel abroad as part of the fundamental rights under Article 21, and allowed one month abroad subject to reporting and cooperation conditions.
- Accused
- Matthew Aaron Van Dyke; Hurba Petro; Slyviak Taras; Ivan Sukmanovskyi; Stefankiv Marian; Honcharuk Maksim alias Maksym; and Kaminskyi Viktor
- Arrest date
- March 13, 2026
- Investigating agency
- National Investigation Agency
- Chargesheet
- Filed on September 8, 2026 under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025
- Allegations
- Unauthorized travel through Mizoram into Myanmar, supplying drones and equipment, and training ethnic armed groups in drone warfare
- Travel period
- One month from the date the accused board their flights
- Court conditions
- Provide addresses, phone numbers and email addresses; assist the NIA; return to India and report within 72 hours
Sources
Delhi Court Allows US, Ukrainian Nationals To Travel Home For A Month
US Mercenary Van Dyke, 6 Others Walk Free After 6 Months of NIA Arrest
VanDyke, Ukrainian Accused Released From Tihar
Delhi court allows US citizen, six Ukrainians held by NIA to visit families abroad for a month
Myanmar training camp case: US national, 6 Ukrainians allowed to meet their families abroad
