New Delhi: Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a US citizen, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in an alleged terror conspiracy case, has sought permission from the court to prepare his own meals while in judicial custody in Tihar Jail.
VanDyke, who has been behind bars since April, told the court that the prison diet is too “spicy, oily, deep-fried and greasy” for him. Claiming he has been on a hunger strike for more than 50 days, he has sought permission to cook his own food using ingredients and utensils purchased entirely at his family’s expense, as reported by Zee News.
Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma of the Patiala House Court, before whom the plea was moved, has asked Tihar Jail authorities to file their response and listed the matter for hearing on July 21.
VanDyke has said in his application that he has not been able to have the meals served in the jail because they are very different from the food he is used to eating.
“The Applicant/Accused… has been constrained to remain on a hunger strike since 06.05.2026,” the petition states. It further says that, as an American citizen, he is “not accustomed to the diet ordinarily served in Indian prisons”.
He argued through his lawyer that the food has caused “severe physical discomfort” and has affected his health.
VanDyke has lost nearly 30 pounds (around 14 kilograms) since beginning the hunger strike, the petition claims. It also says that he has developed vision problems because of inadequate nutrition and experienced a drastic fall in his strength, stamina and immunity.
His lawyer described the request as a humanitarian one and told the court that the plea is aimed only at protecting his health while he is in judicial custody. The application also says VanDyke’s family is ready to bear all expenses for the food, cooking equipment and any other items needed.
He wants to keep food items, including lentils, red meat, chicken, fish (shrimp), pasta, uncooked noodles, rice, potatoes, onions, beans, spices, bread, butter, olive oil, toned milk, soya milk and bottled water if the court permits.
The US citizen has also requested permission to use an induction cooker, pots, bowls and a plastic chopper so he can prepare his own meals in the jail.
He was arrested by the NIA at Kolkata airport on March 13 along with six Ukrainian nationals. They were part of a conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities against India, the agency said.
The accused allegedly maintained links with banned Indian insurgent groups and supplied them with weapons and other equipment, the NIA said. Investigators also claim the accused provided training to these groups and admitted during questioning that they had direct contact with armed terrorists carrying AK-47 rifles.
A group of 14 Ukrainians allegedly entered India on tourist visas before travelling to Guwahati and later to Mizoram. The NIA alleges they crossed into Myanmar without the required permits, trained ethnic armed organisations and helped facilitate the supply of drone consignments from Europe to insurgent networks.
The seven, including VanDyke, have been booked under several provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including charges related to criminal conspiracy. The NIA is continuing its investigation into the alleged cross-border terror network.
