Who is Ashley Tellis? Indian-Origin Expert Arrested In US For Hiding 'Secret Files', Alleged Ties To China

Ashley Tellis, a long-time US government advisor and expert on India and South Asia, was arrested in the United States on October 11 over his alleged ties to China. Tellis is said to have met Chinese government officials

numerous times between 2022 and 2025, which have come under the scanner, according to an FBI affidavit.Tellis, who served as a contractor with the Office of Net Assessment at the Department of Defence, recently renamed the Department of War, held a top-secret clearance and had access to sensitive information. He was also employed as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Court records reveal he allegedly accessed and removed documents related to Air Force tactics and techniques, among others. Authorities are reported to have found more than a thousand pages of documents marked "TOP SECRET" and "SECRET" during a search of his Vienna. In September 2022, he met with Chinese officials at a Virginia restaurant while holding a manila envelope that he no longer appeared to have when he left, Fox News reported, quoting prosecutors. During a meeting on April 11, 2023, Tellis and Chinese officials discussed Iranian-Chinese relations and emerging technologies while dining at a restaurant, authorities said. He is also said to have received a gift bag at a September 2 dinner meeting with Chinese officials, court documents state.

Who is Ashley Tellis?

Tellis was born in Mumbai, India and studied at St. Xavier's College. He later earned an M.A. in political science and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. A veteran policy strategist, he began working for the State Department in 2001.Considered a subject-matter expert on India and South Asian affairs, Tellis worked on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush and is listed in an FBI affidavit as an unpaid adviser to the State Department and a contractor with the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment.Also Read: Top India Expert in the US Found to Have Secret Links with China He was arrested over the weekend and charged by criminal complaint with the unlawful retention of national defence information, in violation of 18 U.S.C. and 793(e), according to an official statement of the United States' Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia."We are fully focused on protecting the American people from all threats, foreign and domestic. The charges as alleged in this case represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens," said U.S. Attorney Halligan. "The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served."If convicted, Tellis is subject to a maximum of ten years' imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment and forfeiture. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.