Has NIA Dropped UAPA Charges Against Matthew VanDyke? Agency Clarifies Probe Is Still On
Even as questions are being raised over the National Investigation Agency (NIA) not invoking the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in its latest chargesheet against US citizen Matthew VanDyke, officials have clarified that the agency has not completely dropped terror-related charges and that the investigation is still underway.
Even as questions are being raised over the National Investigation Agency (NIA) not invoking the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in its latest chargesheet against US citizen Matthew VanDyke, officials have clarified that the agency has not completely dropped terror-related charges and that the investigation is still underway.
The clarification came a day after the NIA filed a chargesheet before a Delhi court against six Ukrainian nationals and VanDyke in a case registered in March this year. Although the case was initially registered under the UAPA, the latest chargesheet does not invoke provisions of the anti-terror law. The agency has said it will file a supplementary chargesheet if the investigation establishes any offence under the UAPA, news agency ANI reported.
What Is the Matthew VanDyke Case?
At the time of their arrests, VanDyke and the other accused were booked under Section 18 of the UAPA. They have been accused of illegally entering Myanmar and training ethnic armed groups in drone warfare. Matthew Aaron Van Dyke Case: NIA Drops UAPA Charges Against US Citizen and 6 Ukrainians, Says Report.
The NIA has maintained that it has not dropped the terror angle in the case. The latest chargesheet has been filed under the Immigration and Foreigners Act (IFA), as offences related to illegal entry and immigration violations have been established during the investigation.
A key factor in the probe is the 180-day period available to the agency under the UAPA framework to complete its investigation when an accused remains in judicial custody. Officials have indicated that the investigation into other possible offences is continuing and that a supplementary chargesheet could be filed if further UAPA-related offences are established. Matthew VanDyke Case: Family Seeks Urgent US Diplomatic Intervention Over Tihar Detention.
Matthew VanDyke Seeks US Intervention for Release
The case has also drawn attention in the United States, with VanDyke's family seeking diplomatic intervention for his release from Delhi's Tihar Jail.
On September 2, VanDyke's family members approached the US administration, alleging that he had been denied basic detainee rights and was being kept in solitary confinement at Tihar Jail.
“The family of @Matt_VanDyke seeks urgent U.S. diplomatic intervention as he is presently still denied basic detainee rights, and is being kept in solitary confinement at Tihar Jail 8/9 in Delhi, India,” the family said, according to ANI.
The family also maintained that Matthew VanDyke is innocent of the charges against him and said that throughout his career, he had documented human suffering and provided humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and crisis.
NIA Says Investigation Is Still On
The NIA's clarification indicates that the absence of UAPA provisions from the latest chargesheet should not be interpreted as a complete closure of the terror-related investigation. The agency has retained the option of filing a supplementary chargesheet if evidence of offences under the UAPA emerges during the ongoing probe.
The development comes amid continued scrutiny over the case and VanDyke's detention in India.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 09, 2026 08:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).