Matthew Van Dyke gets default bail in NIA terror-conspiracy case
A Delhi court on Friday granted default bail to US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, who was arrested in a case involving an alleged terror conspiracy being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Special Judge Prashant Sharma granted Van Dyke bail on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh along with a surety of the same amount, according to court sources. The court also directed him not to leave Delhi.
The court had issued notice to the NIA on Thursday after Van Dyke moved a bail application.
Earlier this month, the NIA filed a chargesheet against Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals over alleged illegal entry, stay and movement in India. The agency did not invoke the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the chargesheet.
The chargesheet invoked Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act. Section 21 deals with penalties for entering India without a valid passport or other required travel documents.
The NIA said in its chargesheet that additional time was required to ascertain and verify the “true and complete facts” regarding possible offences under the UAPA.
The agency has alleged that the seven individuals were being investigated in connection with a broader conspiracy involving assistance to ethnic armed groups operating in India and Myanmar, as well as the provision of drone training to such groups.
Van Dyke’s default bail comes after the NIA filed the chargesheet without charging him under the UAPA. The court’s order concerns his entitlement to default bail and does not amount to a finding on the allegations against him.
with inputs from PTI
