US National Matthew VanDyke Alleges Repeated Assaults by Staff During Detention in Delhi’s Tihar Jail

American national Matthew VanDyke has alleged that he was repeatedly assaulted by prison staff during his nearly six-month detention in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, claiming that he was punched in the chest and arms, threatened with a baton and denied timely medical attention.

In a handwritten affidavit submitted to the US Embassy in August 2026, nearly two weeks before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed its chargesheet, VanDyke alleged that the assaults left visible marks on his body. He further claimed that prison authorities delayed medical treatment for almost 24 hours despite his repeated requests, apparently attempting to conceal evidence of the alleged abuse.

VanDyke urged US diplomatic officials to communicate his concerns to Indian authorities, warning that if he was dissatisfied with the chargesheet, he would take details of the alleged custodial mistreatment to the media and courts.

The allegations came into public focus on November 9, when VanDyke posted on social media platform X that India had imprisoned him and several Ukrainian nationals for more than six months in connection with what he described as Russia’s war against Ukraine. He indicated that he would disclose further details in upcoming posts and interviews.

VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals were arrested in March 2026 during a coordinated operation by the NIA. The agency initially invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), alleging that the group had illegally entered India, crossed into Myanmar and provided drone warfare training and related military instruction to ethnic armed groups.

However, the NIA subsequently dropped the terrorism-related charges in its chargesheet and proceeded with immigration and offences under laws governing foreign nationals. A special court granted them default bail in September 2026. VanDyke was released from Tihar Jail and permitted to return to the United States. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 2027.

VanDyke is the founder of Sons of Liberty International, a US-registered organisation that provides military training and assistance to forces opposing authoritarian regimes. He has also described himself as a veteran of several conflicts, including the war in Libya.

During his imprisonment, VanDyke reportedly raised concerns about the quality of prison food and staged a hunger strike. He subsequently obtained court-directed arrangements for specialised meals, a supervised cook and other facilities.

Sources familiar with the case have also described VanDyke as having behaved aggressively towards prison staff on certain occasions, maintaining that neither jail personnel nor other inmates assaulted or manhandled him. The court was reportedly satisfied with the explanation provided by the jail authorities.

The allegations of custodial abuse, therefore, remain disputed, with VanDyke's handwritten affidavit and public statements contradicting the account presented in CCTV footage and official prison documentation. The competing claims form part of the wider legal controversy surrounding his detention in India.