A Delhi court on Friday granted an extension until February 24, 2027, for US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals to remain outside India in the Myanmar arms training case, which the NIA is currently investigating.
The court also permitted VanDyke to return to the US. He appeared in person before the court on Friday. The other six accused who are currently abroad appeared via video link, citing health reasons.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma passed the order while hearing the applications of the seven foreign nationals. The order followed submissions by NIA counsel Rahul Tyagi, who said the agency needed more time to review various facets of the investigation.
As per the NIA, VanDyke and the six Ukrainian nationals entered India on tourist visas, went to the northeast without the requisite permits and then crossed from Mizoram into Myanmar, where they are said to have trained ethnic armed groups.
The agency initially invoked provisions of the UAPA (including the conspiracy provisions). Also, it alleged that the accused had divulged information about a network, assembled equipment and were engaged in the targeting of a passenger aircraft in Myanmar. In its chargesheet, however, the NIA did not invoke the UAPA provisions and instead pressed Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act against the seven accused.
Those offences are compoundable before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office.
The NIA had stated that its investigation into the terror-related aspects was ongoing and that further charges may be included in a subsequent chargesheet.
VanDyke, who was granted default bail last month, returned to India specifically to attend the hearing and to seek an extension of the travel permission he had previously been granted. In September, the court allowed him to go to the US for one month to see his family, on the condition that he returned to India and appeared before the court.
On Friday, VanDyke said he had fired his lawyer because of financial difficulties and said that he was now representing himself. He also said he had received no assistance from the US embassy.