A Delhi court on Thursday sought a response from the NIA on a bail plea moved by US national, a mercenary, Matthew Aaron Van Dyke arrested in a terror conspiracy case in March this year for alleged links to ethnic armed groups in India, sources said.

They said that the agency has to file its reply by September 18. Earlier this month, the agency had filed a charge sheet against Van Dyke and six Ukrainian citizens for illegal entry, stay, and movement in India, but did not invoke the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.