US citizen Matthew VanDyke granted default bail in Delhi terror case

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi granted default bail to US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke, setting a personal bond and surety of Rs 1 lakh each and directing him to reside in Delhi while remaining reachable for the NIA investigation officer. The court also indicated that six Ukrainian nationals charged alongside VanDyke may apply for bail. The NIA’s charge sheet accuses all seven foreigners of violating Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act after they allegedly entered Mizoram without permits and crossed into Myanmar.

While the agency has not yet applied the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, it warned that a supplementary charge sheet could be filed if evidence emerges. The accused were detained for about 180 days following arrests in May 2026 over alleged training of ethnic armed groups hostile to India’s security. Their next hearing is scheduled for October 1.