World · South & Central Asia · 1 hr ago
Delhi court lets U.S. man and six Ukrainians stay abroad until February
A Delhi court has allowed seven foreign nationals to remain outside India until February 24, 2027.
They are U.S. citizen Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals, who were arrested by India’s National Investigation Agency in March.
The case concerns allegations that they trained ethnic armed groups in Myanmar after entering India on tourist visas and travelling to the northeast without required permits.
The agency also alleged links to equipment assembled for a plot against a passenger aircraft in Myanmar, but these claims have not been established in court.
Although the NIA initially invoked anti-terrorism law, its initial chargesheet instead cited sections of the Immigration and Foreigners Act.
The NIA says its investigation is still underway and may bring further allegations in a supplementary chargesheet.
A Delhi court allowed U.S. national Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals to stay outside India until February 24, 2027.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma passed the order on October 23 after hearing applications from the seven accused.
The National Investigation Agency said its investigation was continuing and that it needed more time.
The NIA alleges the accused crossed from Mizoram into Myanmar and trained ethnic armed groups.
The agency’s initial chargesheet did not include the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act provisions it had first invoked.
- Who
- U.S. national Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals.
- What
- A Delhi court extended their permission to stay outside India until February 24, 2027.
- When
- The order was passed on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- The order was passed by a Delhi court. The case concerns alleged training in Myanmar.
- Why
- The court considered applications from the seven accused. The NIA said it needed more time to investigate.
National Investigation Agency
Matthew Aaron VanDyke
Allegations
National Investigation Agency
The agency alleges the accused entered India on tourist visas, travelled to the Northeast without required permits, and trained ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.
Matthew Aaron VanDyke
VanDyke questioned why the case against him should continue.
Investigation
National Investigation Agency
The NIA said its investigation was continuing and that it needed more time.
Matthew Aaron VanDyke
VanDyke said he would stay in India if the case continued.
The NIA arrested VanDyke at Kolkata airport; the six Ukrainians were arrested at airports in Delhi and Lucknow.
The court allowed VanDyke to travel to the United States for a month to meet his family, on condition that he return to India and appear before it.
The court allowed VanDyke and the six Ukrainians to stay outside India until February 24, 2027.
The permission to stay outside India is due to run until this date.
- People
- Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals
- Order date
- October 23, 2026
- Permission end date
- February 24, 2027
- Judge
- Special Judge Prashant Sharma
- Investigating agency
- National Investigation Agency (NIA)
- Chargesheet provisions
- Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act
4 sources
US national Matthew VanDyke allowed to stay out of India until February 24
Arms training case: US mercenary VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians to remain abroad till Feb 24
Court extends overseas stay of U.S. national and six Ukrainians in arms training case
What people are saying
There's no reason for it to continue. If not, I'll stay in India. Until this is over.
I don't have any comments on the case. It's all ongoing. Especially now that I'm my own lawyer. I don't want to talk about it. There is a money issue. That's the main issue.