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VanDyke and six Ukrainians were arrested by NIA in March 2026 over allegations of a wider transnational network involving drone operations, training of armed groups in Myanmar
Matthew VanDyke is one of the seven foreigners arrested by the NIA under India’s stringent UAPA. (Image: Reuters/File)
US national Matthew VanDyke and some of the other foreign nationals arrested in the alleged Myanmar-linked terror conspiracy are likely to face a chargesheet under Sections 21 and 23 of the Foreigners Act, top government sources have told CNN-News18. The development comes even as the National Investigation Agency’s probe under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act remains active and is being pursued separately.
VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals were arrested by the NIA in March 2026 in connection with allegations of a wider transnational network involving drone operations, training of armed groups in Myanmar and possible links with insurgent organisations in India’s Northeast. The NIA has alleged that some members of the group travelled through Assam and Mizoram before illegally entering Myanmar, where they were allegedly involved in drone warfare-related training and operations.
The agency has also told a Delhi court that it is probing the group’s alleged links with Myanmar-based terror masterminds. The court recently allowed the NIA to question VanDyke and Ukrainian national Viktor Kaminskyi inside Tihar Jail as part of the ongoing investigation.
Against this backdrop, top government sources now indicate that the Foreigners Act route is moving towards the chargesheet stage.
VanDyke and the others are likely to be chargesheeted under Sections 21 and 23 of the Foreigners Act for alleged violations connected with their entry, movement and stay in India. The investigation has examined not only their alleged activities but also their status and compliance with the rules applicable to foreign nationals travelling and staying in the country.
Importantly, officials have stressed that the Foreigners Act proceedings will not bring the UAPA investigation to an end.
The two cases are being treated as separate legal tracks. While the Foreigners Act case is moving towards prosecution, the UAPA probe into the alleged terror conspiracy, including the group’s suspected links to Myanmar-based networks and other individuals, remains open. They are likely to get bail under the fresh chargesheet.
As part of the continuing investigation, the passports of VanDyke and the other foreign nationals are also set to be impounded, sources said. The move is intended to ensure that those under investigation cannot leave India while the proceedings remain pending.
The NIA has alleged that material recovered during the investigation, including digital evidence, could help establish the roles of the accused and identify other suspects. The agency has specifically sought to question VanDyke and Kaminskyi to confront them with witness inputs and gather information about alleged masterminds operating from Myanmar.
Sources said the latest action therefore does not signal any dilution of the terror probe. Instead, the Foreigners Act proceedings and the UAPA investigation are moving simultaneously, with the former closer to the chargesheet stage and the latter continuing to examine the larger alleged terror network.
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Ask News18Matthew VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals are likely to be chargesheeted under Sections 21 and 23 of the Foreigners Act for alleged violations related to their entry, movement, and stay in India. This is separate from the ongoing UAPA investigation into their alleged terror links.
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Group Editor, Investigations and Security Affairs, Network18
September 08, 2026, 09:58 IST
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