Tihar CCTV footage challenges US national Matthew VanDyke’s assault claims, raises questions over prison confrontation

New Delhi: CCTV footage from Delhi’s Tihar jail has cast doubt on allegations of custodial assault made by Matthew Aaron VanDyke, an American national arrested earlier this year over his alleged involvement in training armed groups in Myanmar. A report submitted by prison authorities to a Delhi court reportedly shows VanDyke striking an armed police constable before being physically restrained, challenging his account that jail personnel subjected him to unprovoked violence.

The footage and accompanying prison report, first reported by CNN-News18 on Thursday, reportedly establish that the confrontation began when VanDyke acted aggressively towards the constable. According to the report, the officer interpreted the sudden physical contact as a possible attempt to escape and intervened to prevent the situation from escalating.

The material was reportedly placed before the court following allegations of mistreatment by VanDyke, who spent more than six months in Indian custody before securing bail in September. CNN-News18 reported that the court examined the complete CCTV sequence and expressed satisfaction with the explanation provided by the prison authorities.

However, the reported footage concerns a particular confrontation and does not independently resolve every allegation of mistreatment raised by VanDyke during his detention. Nor does the constable’s reported apprehension about an escape attempt establish that the American had actually intended to flee.

Allegations of repeated assaults

The controversy gained prominence on Tuesday after VanDyke reportedly sent a handwritten affidavit to the US embassy in August alleging repeated physical abuse inside Tihar jail. He claimed that prison personnel punched him in the chest, assaulted his arms, threatened him with a baton and denied him medical attention for nearly 24 hours despite repeated requests.

VanDyke also expressed fears of retaliation and accused prison officials of attempting to conceal the alleged incidents, according to reports citing his affidavit. The US embassy declined to discuss its communications with him, while prison authorities did not provide a substantive public response to questions about the broader allegations.

Separately, the Tribune reported on Wednesday that sources familiar with his detention described his behaviour towards jail personnel as aggressive and confrontational. The sources also said he had complained about prison food and communicated with American diplomatic officials regarding his treatment.

Why India arrested VanDyke

The dispute over prison conditions forms part of a larger investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which arrested VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals on March 13, 2026. Investigators alleged that the foreigners travelled through Mizoram without the required permits before entering Myanmar, where they allegedly provided military and drone-warfare training to ethnic armed organizations.

The investigation identified groups including the Chin National Front and the Kachin Independence Army, which have been fighting Myanmar’s military authorities. According to investigative disclosures, the NIA also examined allegations involving drones, associated equipment and a reported attack on a civilian aircraft in Myanmar.

The alleged activities have particular significance for India because Mizoram and Manipur share sensitive borders with Myanmar, where years of armed conflict have complicated border security. The movement of armed groups, weapons and drone technology across this region presents challenges extending beyond conventional immigration violations, although the allegations against the seven foreigners remain unproven.

VanDyke, who has participated in conflicts abroad and founded an organization offering military assistance to armed movements, has disputed the Indian investigation’s characterization of his activities. He has maintained that his movements through India were connected to Myanmar rather than operations directed against Indian interests.

Bail and unresolved terrorism probe

The legal case took a significant turn on September 18 when a special NIA court granted VanDyke default bail, finding that the agency had filed an incomplete chargesheet within the statutory investigation period. Although the original case involved allegations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the chargesheet invoked only Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

The court held that investigators could not circumvent an accused person’s statutory entitlement to bail by submitting a partial chargesheet while continuing to investigate more serious allegations. The NIA maintained that its examination of possible UAPA offences remained open and that a supplementary chargesheet could follow if sufficient evidence emerged.

Following his release, VanDyke travelled to the United States and subsequently returned to Delhi for proceedings on October 23. The court permitted him and the six Ukrainians to remain abroad until February 24, 2027, when the matter is scheduled for further consideration.

Russia-Ukraine connection alleged

The case acquired another international dimension on Monday when VanDyke publicly alleged that his imprisonment and that of the Ukrainians were connected to Russia’s war against Ukraine. He promised further disclosures through social media and interviews, but has not publicly established evidence demonstrating that Moscow influenced the Indian investigation.

The competing accounts now leave two distinct issues requiring scrutiny – whether prison authorities used justified force during the recorded confrontation, and whether VanDyke’s wider allegations of custodial mistreatment can be substantiated. The CCTV material reportedly supports the authorities’ explanation of one incident, but the broader detention controversy and the NIA’s investigation remain unresolved.