U.S. authorities have arrested Ashley Tellis, an Indian-born former senior government advisor, in Virginia for allegedly possessing highly classified defense information without authorization — a case that officials are calling critical to national security.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, investigators recovered over 1,000 pages of sensitive material from Tellis’s residence, including documents related to American defense strategy and foreign policy planning.
Ashley Tellis, who was born in Mumbai, India, later became a senior advisor to the U.S. Department of State. He is accused of illegally retaining classified national security materials, in violation of federal law.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Officials say the investigation remains ongoing, with potential implications for U.S. defense confidentiality and internal information handling procedures.
Analysts note that the arrest comes at a delicate time when U.S.–India defense cooperation has been expanding. The case has raised serious concerns over trust, information security, and the potential risks of insider breaches within critical government institutions.
National security experts have termed the incident “a wake-up call,” urging a comprehensive review of how sensitive information is stored and monitored, especially among senior officials with prior high-level security access.
