Indian-American defence expert Ashley Tellis arrested over secrets
Ashley Tellis, a respected scholar and policy expert, is known for shaping Washington’s understanding of South Asian security and US-India relations.
Renowned Indian-American Scholar Ashley Tellis Arrested for Allegedly Retaining Classified US Defence Documents
Ashley J. Tellis, one of Washington’s most respected voices on foreign policy and South Asian security, has been arrested and charged with unlawfully retaining classified national defence information, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Tellis, 64, a senior fellow and Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, was taken into custody over the weekend following an extensive federal investigation into his alleged mishandling of sensitive government documents.
Prosecutors claim Tellis violated Title 18 U.S. Code § 793(e) — a section of the Espionage Act that forbids unauthorized possession or retention of defence-related materials. The charge, though rare for an academic of his stature, underscores the seriousness with which US authorities treat classified information breaches.
If convicted, Tellis could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and forfeiture of the materials in question. However, prosecutors stressed that the complaint remains a formal accusation, not a determination of guilt. “Mr. Tellis is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law,” the statement from the US Attorney’s Office said.
A distinguished academic and policy practitioner, Ashley Tellis has long been regarded as one of Washington’s foremost experts on South Asian security and US-India relations. His deep understanding of regional geopolitics and nuclear strategy has shaped American foreign policy thinking for decades.
Before joining Carnegie, Tellis held senior roles in the RAND Corporation and worked within the US State Department and the National Security Council, where he advised on strategic affairs and Asian policy. His acclaimed books — including Striking Asymmetries: Nuclear Transitions in Southern Asia and Revising U.S. Grand Strategy Toward China — remain foundational in policy circles.
US media reports suggest that investigators are also reviewing Tellis’s professional interactions with Chinese officials during academic exchanges. While officials have clarified that no evidence of espionage has surfaced, they allege his handling of certain restricted materials violated federal security protocols.
The news has sent shockwaves through Washington’s diplomatic and academic communities, where Tellis is widely admired for his intellect, insight, and decades of contribution to US strategic thought. As the legal proceedings unfold, many in both Washington and New Delhi are watching closely — stunned by the turn of events involving a man long seen as a bridge between the world’s two largest democracies.