Myanmar Drone-Warfare Training Case: Court Permits VanDyke To Travel To US, Ukrainians To Stay Abroad

A Delhi court allowed American national Matthew VanDyke to travel to the US and extended six Ukrainians’ stay abroad until February 24 in an ongoing NIA investigation.

Post Published By: Pradeep Tripathi

Updated : 23 October 2026, 3:53 PM IST

Court permits VanDyke to return to US amid investigation (Img: IANS)

New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue court in Delhi has allowed American national Matthew Aaron VanDyke to travel to the United States after he returned to India to attend a court hearing. The court has also extended permission for six Ukrainian nationals to remain outside India until the next hearing on February 24, news agency ANI reported.

VanDyke and the six Ukrainians were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in March 2026 over allegations that they provided weapons and drone-warfare training to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.

Court Extends Travel Relief

VanDyke was granted default bail by the Rouse Avenue court on September 18 and was released from Tihar Jail on September 24 after completing the required formalities.

Earlier, the court had permitted VanDyke and the six Ukrainian nationals to travel to their respective countries for a month to meet their families. The latest order allows the six Ukrainians to remain abroad until February 24, while VanDyke has been permitted to return to the US.

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What The NIA Alleges

The NIA has alleged that the foreign nationals travelled through Mizoram before entering Myanmar, where they took part in a pre-arranged training programme for ethnic armed groups. The alleged training included drone operations, assembly and jamming technology.

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In its chargesheet, the agency invoked provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act but did not include charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The NIA has said its investigation into the alleged terror angle is continuing.

Congress Raises Questions

The court’s earlier decision to allow VanDyke to travel to the US drew criticism from Congress leaders, who questioned whether pressure from Washington had influenced the government’s handling of the case.

Congress leaders also raised questions over the omission of UAPA provisions from the chargesheet and the alleged circumstances in which the foreign nationals entered India and travelled to Myanmar.

The claim that external pressure may have influenced the case has been made by Congress. The NIA’s investigation remains ongoing.