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Congress MP and senior Supreme Court advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Wednesday questioned the dropping of provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke, saying that the "Modi Government owes India an explanation" if the terror charges were dropped following "high-level India-US meetings".
In a post on X, Singhvi said, "If reports are true that terror charges against U.S. citizen Matthew Van Dyke have been dropped after high-level U.S.-India meetings, the Modi Government owes India an explanation. 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?" Earlier on Tuesday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), following a 180-day investigation, did not invoke UAPA provisions in its chargesheet against US national VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals. The case was initially registered by the NIA in March 2026 under Section 18 of the UAPA, relating to terror conspiracy, along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The investigation stemmed from allegations that the seven accused were involved in supporting and training ethnic armed groups in Myanmar that were allegedly inimical to India's national security. The accused include US national VanDyke and Ukrainian nationals Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim and Kaminskyi Viktor. VanDyke, a self-described combat specialist and founder of security firm Sons of Liberty International (SOLI), was arrested at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on March 13 at around 9 pm during a coordinated crackdown. He was subsequently remanded to 11 days of NIA custody on March 17 and remained incarcerated for roughly 180 days. Speaking to ANI, Advocate Rohit Dandriyal, counsel for Van Dyke, said the NIA had initially booked his client under the UAPA but later found that the stringent law was not applicable. "First of all, I would like to tell you this thing that first NIA booked Matthew. They are alleging this thing that Matthew Aron Van Dyke, our client, is booked under the UAPA Act. But now, after 180 days, NIA found this thing that he is not accused under the UAPA Act. He is accused under the Foreigners Act, Sections 21 and 23 only. So, this raises a finger on NIA working style, how they are working," Dandriyal said. When the matter came before Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma, the formal chargesheet omitted the UAPA provisions and instead invoked Sections 21 and 23 of the Foreigners Act. These are compoundable offences at the level of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Meanwhile, the NIA's Special Public Prosecutor maintained that the investigation is still ongoing and said that the agency may file a supplementary chargesheet if an offence under the UAPA is ultimately made out. Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma has listed the matter for formal consideration on October 1. (ANI)
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