US national arrested in India for drone technology training to Myanmar ethnic armed groups gets bail

Matthew Arron Vandike, a US national arrested on charges of teaching drone operation technology to ethnic armed groups from Myanmar, has been granted bail by the Delhi court. Vandike, who was in the custody of India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), was initially charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). However, when the NIA submitted the formal chargesheet to the court, the UAPA section was not included, and he was charged only under the 2025 Immigration Act. The Delhi High Court granted him bail with a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh, and he is required to stay within the city of Delhi and appear for investigation whenever summoned by the investigating officer. In this case, along with Vandike, the main suspect, six Ukrainian nationals are involved, and all seven foreigners were arrested in March and have been in judicial custody at Tihar Jail since April. The NIA alleges that they entered Myanmar through India's Mizoram state and provided training in drone operations, piloting, installation, and jammer technology systems. The group is said to be connected with ethnic armed groups in Myanmar and had transported drones and equipment parts through India. Based on evidence and witness testimonies, it was argued in court that this was a conspiracy involving armed groups in Myanmar. Questions were raised in court by Vandike's lawyer regarding the unexpected removal of the UAPA charges after it was alleged to be a conspiracy that threatened India's national security. The NIA responded that counter-terrorism investigations are ongoing and further charges may be filed if more evidence is found. Vandike is the founder of an organization called "Sons of Liberty International," has a history of arrest for participating in the 2011 Libyan civil war, is a war correspondent, and holds a Master's degree in Security from Georgetown University. Following the removal of the UAPA charges from the chargesheet, Vandike was granted bail, and the path has now opened for the remaining six Ukrainian nationals to apply for bail.