NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — A Delhi court granted default bail Friday to U.S. national Matthew Aaron VanDyke, who spent about six months in custody in a National Investigation Agency case involving alleged illegal travel through northeastern India and activities in Myanmar.
Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma granted VanDyke bail on a personal bond of 100,000 rupees and a matching surety. The court ordered him to remain in Delhi and appear before investigators when summoned.
The NIA arrested VanDyke at Kolkata airport on March 13 along with six Ukrainian nationals arrested at airports in Delhi and Lucknow. Investigators accused the group of traveling through Assam and Mizoram before crossing into Myanmar, where they allegedly trained ethnic armed groups in drone warfare and other military techniques.
The NIA initially investigated the case under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA. However, its Sept. 8 charge sheet accused the seven defendants only of violations under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, which cover the entry, movement and stay of foreign nationals.
The court said the NIA could not use an incomplete charge sheet to prevent VanDyke from seeking default bail after the statutory investigation period expired. The agency says it continues to investigate possible UAPA offenses and could file additional charges if it gathers sufficient evidence.
The court also said the six Ukrainian defendants qualify for default bail on the same grounds, though they would need to file their own applications.
VanDyke founded Sons of Liberty International, a U.S.-based organization that says it provides military training and security assistance to groups fighting authoritarian governments and insurgent organizations. He previously took part in Libya’s 2011 civil war.
The NIA’s allegations against VanDyke and the other defendants remain before the court.
