Myanmar Training Camp Case: US National Matthew Van Dyke Pays ₹5.5 Lakh Compounding Fee To FRRO, Seeks Delhi Court's Nod To Return To USA

US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke has paid Rs 5.5 lakh to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to compound offences registered against him under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, in connection with the alleged Myanmar training camp case.

The payment comes days after the Special NIA Court in Delhi granted Van Dyke default bail, observing that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had not completed its investigation into the alleged offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) within the prescribed period.

Compounding of an offence means legally settling an offence by paying a prescribed amount or fulfilling specified conditions, instead of facing prosecution or continuing with a trial for that offence. Once compounded, the person is generally treated as having been discharged from liability for that particular offence, subject to the applicable law.

Why was Van Dyke arrested?

Van Dyke was arrested by the NIA on March 13, 2026, in a case concerning alleged activities linked to a training camp in Myanmar. He was initially booked under Section 18 of the UAPA.

According to the NIA's investigation, Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals were allegedly involved in activities connected with Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups. The agency had alleged that the accused entered Myanmar through Mizoram without valid travel documents and were involved in a planned training programme relating to drone warfare, drone operations, assembly and jamming technology.

The NIA had also alleged that several consignments of drones and related equipment were brought from Europe to Mizoram and supplied to persons associated with the groups in Myanmar.

However, when the agency filed its chargesheet on September 8, it invoked Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, against the seven accused. The chargesheet did not invoke the UAPA provisions. The NIA told the court that its investigation into the alleged UAPA offences was still continuing and that a supplementary chargesheet could be filed if further investigation established offences under the anti-terror law.

The statutory period for completing the investigation expired on September 8. Van Dyke thereafter sought default bail, arguing that the investigation into the UAPA allegations had not been completed within the prescribed period.

Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma subsequently granted him default bail. The court noted that the investigation into the alleged UAPA offences remained incomplete and held that the investigating agency could not defeat the statutory right to default bail by filing an incomplete chargesheet while continuing the investigation.

Court directed Van Dyke to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and a surety bond of the same amount. He was also directed to remain in Delhi and join the investigation whenever required.

What does the Rs 5.5 lakh payment mean?

The Rs 5.5 lakh paid by Van Dyke relates specifically to the offences under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. These offences are compoundable before the FRRO.

The FRRO passed the relevant order after Van Dyke deposited the compounding amount. The order is expected to be placed before the Special NIA Court as his defence prepares the discharge plea.

The payment, however, does not by itself bring the entire NIA proceedings to an end. The agency has maintained that its investigation into the alleged UAPA offences is continuing. Court will therefore consider the proposed discharge plea in light of the chargesheet, the prosecution's stand and the material available on record.

Counsel representing Van Dyke now plans to move a discharge plea before the NIA court, according to media reports.

[Inputs: ANI]