A Delhi court on Friday allowed US national Matthew VanDyke to return to his home country until February 24 next year, after he appeared before it in a case in which the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has accused him and six Ukrainian nationals of training Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups in drone warfare.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma passed the order while hearing applications moved by the seven foreign nationals. The proceedings were held in-camera. The six Ukrainian nationals, who were also allowed to leave India, appeared through video conferencing, citing health issues.
The court extended the permission for all seven accused to remain outside India until February 24.
VanDyke, who was granted permission to travel to the US for a month in September, returned to India to appear before the court.
The case against VanDyke
Also Read I Matthew VanDyke, US national held in Myanmar arms training case, allowed longer stay outside India by Delhi court The NIA arrested VanDyke and the six Ukrainians on March 13. The seven were charged under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, which provide for compoundable offences. The case is not the first instance of a foreign national leaving India while an investigation or legal proceedings remain pending, people in central agencies pointed out. It alleged that they entered Myanmar through Mizoram without valid travel documents and trained members of ethnic armed groups, including the Chin National Front and the Kachin Independence Army, for nearly three months in drone operations, assembly and jamming technology. The agency initially invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), but did not include them in its charge sheet.
Seen by HT, the NIA did not oppose VanDyke’s return to the US, according to the court order. The agency told the court that it needed more time to investigate several aspects of the case, with its counsel Rahul Tyagi making submissions to this effect. The NIA has said its investigation into other aspects of the case is continuing.
