Indian-American Security Expert Arrested for Classified Document Misconduct

Arrest of Ashley Tellis

Ashley Tellis, a prominent Indian-American expert in national security and a long-time advisor in the United States, was apprehended on Saturday for allegedly unlawfully removing classified documents from a government facility, according to reports.

Tellis, who works as a consultant for the US State Department, was arrested after authorities discovered over a thousand classified documents at his residence in Virginia.

Originally from India, Tellis is a naturalized US citizen and serves as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think tank based in the US.

Documents that Tellis is accused of accessing and removing reportedly include sensitive information related to Air Force strategies and operations.

An affidavit from the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that Tellis had multiple meetings with officials from the Chinese government over recent years.

However, the affidavit did not clarify whether Tellis shared any specific information with these officials.

In response to the situation, Amit Malviya, the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s social media team, remarked that this incident sheds light on why Tellis, often praised by India's opposition, had been critical of the ruling party.

Malviya further stated, “The forces working against India are beginning to unravel in ways few could have imagined,” in a post on social media.

This explains why Ashley Tellis, often cited and celebrated by India’s opposition, spoke so frequently and harshly against us.

The forces working against India are beginning to unravel in ways few could have imagined. https://t.co/ojYOP28nOE pic.twitter.com/OsjWsWuBKy

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 14, 2025