The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet before a special court in Delhi against seven foreign nationals accused of involvement in training ethnic armed groups in Myanmar allegedly linked to activities against India’s national security.
The case was registered by the NIA in March 2026 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). However, the charge sheet does not invoke the UAPA provisions. The NIA’s Special Public Prosecutor said the investigation is still continuing and that a supplementary charge sheet may be filed if further investigation establishes an offence under the UAPA.
Instead, the agency has invoked Sections 21 and 23 of the Foreigners Act. These offences are compoundable at the level of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
The charge sheet was filed before Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma, who listed the matter for consideration on October 1.
The accused are US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals—Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim and Kaminskyi Viktor. They were arrested in May 2026 and remained in custody for around six months.
The NIA alleges that the accused supported ethnic armed groups in Myanmar by supplying weapons and other military equipment and providing training. The agency also alleged that some of these groups had links with insurgent organisations operating in India.
According to the prosecution, the accused entered India on visas, travelled to Mizoram, a protected area, and subsequently crossed into Myanmar, where they allegedly established contact with ethnic armed groups. The NIA further alleged that they received and provided training in Myanmar and were involved in bringing a large consignment of drones from Europe through India.
The agency had earlier alleged that the accused were in contact with armed individuals and that their activities could have implications for India’s national security.
The accused were initially arrested in a case involving charges under Section 18 of the UAPA, relating to conspiracy for terrorist acts, along with provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
While granting 11 days of NIA custody in March, the court had observed that the FIR contained allegations concerning acts affecting India’s national security and interests and had held that Section 18 of the UAPA was broadly attracted at that stage.
The seven accused were arrested from different locations—three Ukrainians from Delhi, three from Lucknow and the US national from Kolkata.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the NIA has indicated that further charges could be brought if the continuing probe establishes offences under the UAPA.
