• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. NIA denies dropping UAPA charges against Matthew Van Dyke.
  2. Terror investigation under UAPA remains actively ongoing.
  3. Chargesheet filed under Immigration and Foreigners Act.

New Delhi: Amid massive political uproar over reports of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) dropping Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) charges against US mercenary Matthew Van Dyke and six others in a terror conspiracy case, authorities have clarified that the charges have not been withdrawn.

What is UAPA?

The UAPA, 1967, is India's primary counter-terrorism legislation, designed to address activities directed against the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.

Who are the foreign mercenaries?

The accused were arrested for allegedly training ethnic armed groups in Myanmar whose activities are inimical to India's national security. The suspects had been in custody for around 180 days following their arrest in May 2026.

The NIA arrested seven individuals: Matthew Aaron Van Dyke (a US citizen) along with six Ukrainian nationals—Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim, and Kaminskyi Viktor. On March 17, they were remanded to NIA custody for 11 days.

ALSO READ: NIA Arrests US National Matthew VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians Following Russian Tip-Off

Dyke had been arrested by the NIA at Kolkata airport, while Ukrainian citizens Petro Hurba, Taras Slyviak and Ivan Sukmanovskyi were arrested at Lucknow airport on March 13.

NIA has not dropped charges: ANI sources

Citing sources in the Delhi Police, news agency ANI reported on Wednesday that the NIA has not dropped the terror investigation against any of the seven accused, adding that the probe into offences under the UAPA remains ongoing. According to ANI sources, "The NIA has filed a chargesheet under the Immigration and Foreigners Act (IFA) because those offences have already been fully established during the investigation."

Massive political uproar in India

Earlier on Tuesday, media reports widely claimed that terror charges against the US national and the six Ukrainians had been dropped following a meeting between US Ambassador Sergio Gor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

This sparked a major political controversy, with opposition parties questioning the abrupt decision to drop such severe charges.

ALSO READ: Supplied Weapons, Drones: US, Ukrainian Citizens Arrested Under Anti-Terror Law For Aiding Armed Groups In Myanmar

"If reports are true that terror charges against US citizen Matthew Van Dyke have been dropped after high-level US-India meetings, the Modi Government owes India an explanation," Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi posted on X. "If an individual was arrested on allegations involving illegal entry, links with armed groups, and drone warfare training, how did those serious allegations suddenly disappear?" he added.

Did any meeting happen between India and the US over the mercenary?

Regarding the US national, ANI sources noted that American diplomats raising the case of a detained citizen is standard diplomatic practice. The Ministry of External Affairs similarly noted that whenever an Indian national is arrested overseas, Indian missions approach local foreign authorities for consular access, legal assistance, fair treatment, and, where appropriate, a speedy trial or remission. However, sources did not confirm whether a specific meeting regarding this case had occurred between American and Indian officials.

"Under the UAPA framework, the investigating agency has up to 180 days to complete its investigation while an accused remains in custody, subject to the statutory process. If the requisite chargesheet is not filed within this period, the accused can seek statutory or default bail," ANI sources explained.

Clarification on UAPA charges

"In this case, the 180-day period of judicial custody was set to expire on September 8, 2026. By this stage, offences under the Immigration and Foreigners Act were already fully established. The NIA therefore filed a chargesheet for those offences rather than allowing the statutory period to expire," the source added.

Sources explicitly clarified that this step should not be confused with the closure of the broader case. "Importantly, the chargesheet itself records that the investigation under the UAPA continues. Therefore, the absence of UAPA provisions in the current IFA chargesheet does not mean the terror investigation has been withdrawn, abandoned, or closed," the source noted.


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