Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Delhi Court Grants Default Bail to US National Van Dyke
A Delhi court granted Matthew Aaron Van Dyke default bail.
He is a US citizen who was arrested in a case investigated by India’s National Investigation Agency.
The case concerns an alleged terror conspiracy involving armed groups in India and Myanmar.
The NIA also mentioned alleged drone training for those groups.
The agency chargesheeted Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals over alleged illegal entry, stay and movement in India.
The chargesheet used provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act.
The NIA did not include charges under the UAPA because it said more time was needed to check possible offences.
Van Dyke must provide bonds and stay in Delhi.
A Delhi court granted default bail to US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke in an NIA-investigated terror-conspiracy case.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma set a personal bond of ₹1 lakh and a surety for the same amount.
Van Dyke was ordered not to leave Delhi while on bail.
The NIA chargesheeted Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act for alleged illegal entry, stay and movement in India.
The NIA did not invoke the UAPA, saying more time was needed to verify possible offences under the law.
- Who
- US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, the NIA and six Ukrainian nationals named in the chargesheet.
- What
- A Delhi court granted Van Dyke default bail in a case involving an alleged terror conspiracy and alleged immigration violations.
- When
- The bail was granted on Friday; the judge’s order was dated September 18, and the court had sought the NIA’s response on Thursday.
- Where
- A Delhi court in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- The NIA is investigating alleged assistance and drone training involving ethnic armed groups in India and Myanmar, while the chargesheet alleges illegal entry, stay and movement in India.
Court’s Default-Bail Reasoning
NIA’s Ongoing Investigation
Completeness of chargesheet
Court’s Default-Bail Reasoning
The judge described the chargesheet as incomplete or “piecemeal” because it invoked only Immigration and Foreigners Act provisions while the UAPA investigation remained pending.
NIA’s Ongoing Investigation
The NIA said more time was required to ascertain and verify the complete facts concerning possible UAPA offences.
Effect of pending UAPA investigation
Court’s Default-Bail Reasoning
The court held that the investigating agency could not circumvent the statutory time limit for default bail by filing an incomplete chargesheet to deny bail.
NIA’s Ongoing Investigation
The NIA continued probing an alleged wide-ranging terror conspiracy involving ethnic armed groups in India and Myanmar and alleged drone training.
- Accused granted bail
- Matthew Aaron Van Dyke
- Bail type
- Default bail
- Bond conditions
- Personal bond of ₹1 lakh and a surety of the same amount
- Travel restriction
- Van Dyke was directed not to leave Delhi
- Other chargesheeted individuals
- Six Ukrainian nationals
- Chargesheet provisions
- Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act
- UAPA status
- The NIA did not invoke the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, saying more time was needed to verify possible offences
