New Delhi: American filmmaker Matthew VanDyke has alleged that his imprisonment in India for over six months was part of Russia's war against Ukraine, claiming he will disclose further details of the case in the coming months.
"India threw me and several Ukrainians in prison for over six months. This was part of Russia's war against Ukraine," VanDyke, 47, wrote on X on Monday night. He said he would share what he described as "shocking details" through social media posts and media interviews. He did not provide evidence to support the allegation.
Neither the Ministry of External Affairs nor the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has publicly responded to his claim.
VanDyke was arrested by the NIA at Kolkata airport on March 13, along with six Ukrainian nationals. Three others were detained at Lucknow airport and three at Delhi airport.
The agency had alleged that the group entered India on tourist visas, travelled to Mizoram without the required permits and crossed into Myanmar illegally. It accused them of training ethnic armed groups, including the Chin National Front and the Kachin Independence Army, in drone warfare and communications jamming. The NIA also alleged that they were linked to a drone attack on a passenger aircraft at Myitkyina airport in February and the movement of drone equipment through India.
However, the NIA's chargesheet, filed in September, did not invoke the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The seven were charged under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act.
After the statutory period for filing the chargesheet under the relevant provisions expired, a Delhi court granted them default bail. VanDyke was released from Tihar Jail on September 24.
On October 23, Special Judge Prashant Sharma allowed all seven accused to remain abroad until the next hearing on February 24, 2027, exempting them from personal appearance.
VanDyke's latest statement follows an earlier allegation reported by ThePrint. According to the publication, he had sent a handwritten affidavit to the US Embassy in late August alleging physical assaults inside Tihar Jail and warning that he would approach the media and courts if dissatisfied with the chargesheet.
The arrests had also triggered a political row, with the Congress criticising the government after VanDyke's release. His lawyer, Rohit Dandriyal, had accused the NIA of pursuing what he called "fictitious" UAPA charges and said the investigation had failed to establish evidence against the accused.
India has made no public comment on VanDyke's latest allegation.
(With inputs from media reports)