Default Bail For US National In NIA case
Special Judge Prashant Sharma granted VanDyke bail on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh and a surety of the same amount. The court directed him not to leave Delhi.
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday granted default bail to US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke, who was arrested in a terror-conspiracy case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma granted VanDyke bail on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh and a surety of the same amount. The court directed him not to leave Delhi.
The court had on Thursday issued notice to the NIA on his bail application.
Earlier this month, the agency filed a chargesheet against VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals for allegedly entering, staying and moving within India illegally. It did not, however, invoke provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against them.
The NIA charged the seven under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act. Section 21 prescribes punishment for entering India without a valid passport or other travel documents.
“More time is required to ascertain and verify the true and complete facts about the commission of offences under the UAPA,” the agency said.
The NIA had told the court that the accused were being investigated in connection with a wide-ranging terror conspiracy involving alleged assistance to ethnic armed groups in India and Myanmar and the provision of drone training to them.