Washington, D.C.: In a stunning development that has sent ripples through diplomatic and intelligence circles, India-born US State Department adviser Ashley J Tellis has been arrested and charged with unlawfully retaining classified national defense information, according to an affidavit filed in a federal court in Virginia.
Tellis, a senior policy adviser known for his pivotal role in shaping US-India relations, has also been accused of holding multiple meetings with Chinese government officials in what prosecutors allege may have compromised sensitive defense materials.
Veteran diplomat and strategic expert under scrutiny
Court documents accessed by Hindustan Times and AFP reveal that the 64-year-old Tellis, a key figure in the US foreign policy establishment since 2001, allegedly stored and mishandled classified materials over several years.
According to the affidavit filed in Virginia, Tellis met Chinese officials at least three times between September 2022 and September 2025 in Fairfax, Virginia. During one of these meetings on September 15, 2022, Tellis was reportedly seen entering a restaurant carrying a manila envelope that was missing when he left. The officials also handed him a red gift bag, raising concerns about possible exchanges of sensitive information.
Federal prosecutors stated that the case “represents a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens.” Lindsey Halligan, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement that the charges underscore the seriousness of safeguarding national defense information.
If convicted, Tellis faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of USD 250,000 for violating federal statutes related to the unlawful retention of national defense materials.
Who is Ashley Tellis?
Born in India, Ashley J Tellis is regarded as one of Washington’s most respected voices on South Asia strategy. He has served as an adviser at the US State Department since 2001 and is widely credited with helping negotiate the 2008 US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement under former President George W Bush.
Tellis has also advised multiple US administrations — including those of Donald Trump and Barack Obama — on strategic affairs involving India, China, and Pakistan. His writings and research have shaped key policy frameworks in Indo-Pacific geopolitics.
Before his arrest, Tellis was a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a senior adviser at the Yorktown Institute, contributing extensively to foreign policy analyses.
Alleged meetings with Chinese officials
The affidavit claims that Tellis met several Chinese government representatives over private dinners and discussions, allegedly involving sensitive topics such as Iran-China relations and US-Pakistan ties.
Prosecutors cited witness testimonies and surveillance footage suggesting that Tellis may have shared or discussed restricted information outside authorized channels. However, officials have not confirmed whether espionage charges are being considered.
The Justice Department emphasised that the current charges pertain to unlawful retention of classified records, not direct espionage. “Our investigation is ongoing, and we are working in coordination with the intelligence community,” a Justice Department spokesperson said.
Reaction from Washington and diplomatic circles
The arrest has raised alarm within diplomatic and strategic communities. Tellis, often seen as an architect of stronger US-India relations, had long been respected for advocating deeper defense and technology ties between New Delhi and Washington.
Analysts have expressed shock over the allegations. “Ashley Tellis has been an intellectual pillar of US-India relations for decades. If the charges are true, this would be a major breach of trust,” said a South Asia scholar at Johns Hopkins University.
Neither Tellis nor his legal representatives have commented publicly on the case.
Trump-era connections and India-US tariffs
Tellis’s name recently resurfaced in media discussions following former President Donald Trump’s new tariff measures on BRICS nations and India. Tellis had told NDTV that Trump “felt cheated” for not receiving credit for de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in May 2025 — comments that had drawn political attention in both capitals.
At the time, Tellis said, “Prime Minister Modi’s call to him, to set the record right, only inflamed the situation rather than resolving it.”
A turning point in Indo-US diplomatic trust
Tellis’s arrest marks one of the most high-profile national security cases involving a foreign-born senior US official in recent years. It comes amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese intelligence operations and foreign influence networks within US institutions.
Washington insiders say the development could cast a shadow over ongoing US-India strategic cooperation, particularly in defense and technology sharing.
As investigations proceed, the State Department has placed Tellis on administrative leave, pending further legal proceedings.