Full Breakdown
Delhi Court Grants Default Bail to Six Ukrainian Nationals in Myanmar Training Case
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Bail Granted to Ukrainian Accused in Myanmar Training Allegations
On September 23, 2026, Special Judge Prashant Sharma of the Rouse Avenue court in New Delhi ordered default bail for six Ukrainian nationals arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in March 2026 on allegations of training ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. Each was released on a personal cash bond of Rs 1 lakh and discharged from offences under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 after the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) compounded the violations with a penalty of Rs 5.5 lakh per person. Travel restrictions barring them from leaving the city without permission were also imposed.
Background & Context
The NIA initially detained the seven foreign nationals—including U.S. citizen Matthew Aaron Van Dyke—under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The charge sheet filed on September 8, 2026 listed only sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, covering illegal entry and visa violations, and omitted any UAPA provisions. Under UAPA, default bail is available when a complete charge sheet is not filed within 180 days of arrest.
Key Figures & Groups
- Special Judge Prashant Sharma – presiding over the bail hearings.
- Matthew Aaron Van Dyke – U.S. national and co-accused.
- Petro Hurba, Taras Slyviak, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Marian Stefankiv, Maksim Honcharuk, Viktor Kaminskyi – the six Ukrainians granted bail.
- National Investigation Agency (NIA) – filed the original arrests and charge sheet.
- Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) – compounded the immigration offences.
- Rahul Tyagi – special public prosecutor for the NIA.
Timeline
- March 13, 2026 – NIA arrests Van Dyke at Kolkata airport and detains six Ukrainians at various airports.
- September 8, 2026 – NIA files a charge sheet limited to immigration violations.
- September 18, 2026 – Court grants default bail to Van Dyke, citing the incomplete charge sheet.
- September 23, 2026 – Default bail extended to the six Ukrainian nationals; FRRO compounds the violations.
- September 25, 2026 (scheduled) – Hearing to consider Van Dyke’s request to travel to the United States.
Data & Statistics
Official Statements & Responses
The court described the NIA’s charge sheet as “piecemeal,” covering only immigration violations and omitting UAPA provisions. Accordingly, the judge applied the default-bail provision, noting that an incomplete filing cannot be used to deny bail. The FRRO’s compounding was presented as a legal settlement mechanism, allowing the accused to avoid criminal prosecution by paying the fine. NIA prosecutors indicated that the terrorism-related investigation remains ongoing and may be presented in a supplementary charge sheet.
Verbatim Quotes
- “In the wake of further investigation being carried out by NIA with respect of offences under UAPA, at this stage it cannot be concluded that accused Matthew Aaron Vandyke is not entitled to default bail.” — Special Judge
- “As such, the investigating agency cannot circumvent section 187(3) BNSS by filing an incomplete charge-sheet, for the purpose of denying default bail to accused Matthew Aaron Van Dyke,” — Special Judge Prashant Sharma