The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has approached a special court in Delhi seeking permission to collect specimen voice samples of seven foreign nationals arrested in connection with an alleged Myanmar training module case being investigated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The application was filed before Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma at the Patiala House Courts under Section 349 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The agency has requested the court to allow experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to obtain and analyse the voice samples as part of its forensic examination of electronic evidence seized during the investigation.
According to the NIA, the case was registered on March 13, 2026, under Section 18 of the UAPA following directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The agency alleges that a group of foreign nationals entered India on tourist visas, travelled to Mizoram and later crossed into Myanmar without obtaining the required permits.
Investigators claim the accused provided training in drone warfare, drone operations, drone assembly and anti-drone jamming technologies to ethnic armed groups engaged in conflict against Myanmar’s military regime. The agency contends that these activities form part of a wider conspiracy with potential implications for regional security.
The court has issued notices on the NIA’s application. Lawyers representing the accused accepted the notices and informed the court that they would file their responses at the next hearing. The matter has been listed for July 2.
The development comes as the NIA has also sought an extension of the statutory investigation period from 90 days to 180 days under the provisions of the UAPA. The agency told the court that the case involves a “deep-rooted criminal conspiracy” with both national and international dimensions.
Among those arrested are US citizen Matthew Aaron Van Dyke and six Ukrainian nationals — Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim and Kaminskyi Viktor.
The NIA informed the court that the investigation is currently at a crucial stage, with multiple electronic devices undergoing forensic examination. Investigators are also scrutinising financial transactions, tracing funding sources and attempting to identify other individuals linked to the alleged conspiracy.
The agency further argued that releasing the accused at this stage could adversely affect the investigation, claiming they may flee the country or attempt to influence witnesses and evidence.
Special Public Prosecutors Rahul Tyagi and Amit Rohila appeared on behalf of the NIA, while Advocate Nitin Saluja represented the Ukrainian nationals. Advocates Rohit Dandriyal and Rohit Gour appeared for Van Dyke.
The accused remain in judicial custody as the investigation continues. The NIA maintains that the alleged training of ethnic armed groups in advanced drone-related military technologies raises significant concerns relating to national security and cross-border militant activities.
