Special Judge Prashant Sharma of the Rouse Avenue court granted permission on Thursday to Matthew Aaron van Dyke, a U.S. national, and six Ukrainians: Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovsky, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim and Kaminskyi Viktor. They had asked to spend six weeks with their families after nearly ten months apart; the court limited the leave to one month from their departure.
The NIA arrested the group in March. The agency alleges they entered India on tourist visas, travelled to the northeast without required permits and crossed from Mizoram into Myanmar, where they received training from ethnic armed groups. It has also alleged that they discussed an attack on a passenger aircraft in Myanmar. These are allegations, not findings by the court.
A charge sheet filed earlier this month did not retain the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act provisions initially invoked by the agency. Instead, it charged the defendants under sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act. The NIA has said its inquiry into the alleged terror-related conduct continues and that it may add allegations in a supplementary filing.
The court ordered the seven to assist the investigation when called, either in person or by video conference, provide their addresses and telephone numbers, and return to India within a month. They must notify the court within 72 hours of returning. Their passports are to be released under applicable rules.