Indian-origin US Defence expert Ashley Tellis arrested over secret documents, links to China
PTC News Desk: A renowned US Defence expert of Indian-origin and longtime advisor on South Asia policy was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly hoarding classified documents and meeting Chinese government officials, according to court filings unsealed this week.
According to the Justice Department, Tellis, 63 unlawfully piled up national defence information, including more than a thousand pages of top secret and secret documents found at his home in Vienna, Virginia.
A State Department official confirmed the arrest but declined to comment further citing that Pentagon does not comment on cases pending inquiry.
Tellis, a respected analyst largely vocal over India US ties and served under multiple administrations, was arrested on Friday and formally charged on Monday. He is also a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank.
WHO IS ASHLEY TELLIS
Ashley Tellis, a seasoned policy strategist who entered the U.S. government in 2001, has served as an advisor on India and South Asia to both Republican and Democratic administrations. His arrest comes amid the Trump administration and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s strict enforcement policy on the mishandling of classified documents, with both vowing to prosecute offenders “without exception.”
Born in Mumbai, Tellis graduated from St. Xavier’s College and went on to earn an MA and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago. Over time, he became a prominent figure in U.S.-India-China policy circles — a frequent panelist and respected commentator whose analyses were widely followed in Washington, New Delhi, and Beijing.
ALLEGED BREACH OF NATIONAL SECURITY
According to court filings, Tellis allegedly accessed, printed, and removed classified materials from both the Defense and State Department facilities during September and October 2025. Surveillance footage purportedly captured him exiting one of the buildings with a leather briefcase after printing files related to U.S. military aircraft capabilities.
A subsequent search warrant executed on October 11 reportedly uncovered secret documents hidden in multiple locations at his residence — inside locked filing cabinets, a basement desk, and even black trash bags stored in a utility room.
Investigators noted that Tellis cooperated with authorities during the raid, unlocking his laptop via fingerprint and handing over keys to the cabinets.
The FBI affidavit stated that Tellis possessed a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information due to his prior government roles.
MEETINGS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS
The case has garnered additional scrutiny after revelations that Tellis had held multiple meetings with Chinese government officials in recent years.
- PTC NEWS
