The arrest of Indian-origin Ashley Tellis (64), foreign policy adviser to the US Government since 2001, who has worked at US Department of State, the National Security Council and the Department of Defence, has sent shockwaves through diplomatic and academic circles, given Tellis’s longstanding role in shaping Indo-US relations and his deep involvement in strategic policy formulation.

The arrest has sparked intense speculation about the nature and intent behind the alleged offences. It is certainly India-centric.

1. The fault is that he was the architect of Indo-US relations for a long time, especially his behind-the-scenes role in the nuclear agreement of 2008.
2. His essay “India’s Great-Power Delusions” published in Foreign Affairs in July/August 2025 provided the spark for getting targeted although he was seen as playing a partisan role in Indian politics in India and abroad for long.
3. It can consume President Trump any time, if the Democrats get to the root of the issue, not the symptoms.
4. What is the quid pro quo?

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Ashley Tellis, a wellknown foreign policy expert and US Govt's adviser for decades, was arrested by the FBI early this week for keeping secret defence documents at home and meeting Chinese officials in the past. The detention hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

However, till last moment he is on record helping design US foreign policy tuned to secure American supremacy. Fortunately for him, he has not been accused of spying for China although he is also 'accused' of receiving Chinese officials. Is it a crime meeting Chinese officials while you are an undisputed foreigh policy expert and adviser to the Government? Whatever the rules may be.

The case

The punishment for unlawfully keeping classified documents at home is 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

On a second count, the FBI suspects without evidence that Tellis may have passed classified documents to Chinese officials. The meetings with Chinese officials allegedly took place in Fairfax, Virginia, between September 2022 and September 2025.

If prosecutors pursue full espionage charges, Tellis could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Federal investigators reportedly discovered over 1,000 pages of top-secret documents at Tellis’s residence in Vienna, Virginia. The materials were found scattered across locked cabinets, trash bags and even his basement. The search was conducted under a court-authorized warrant on October 11, and the arrest followed two days later, on October 13.

His arrest has sparked intense speculation about the nature and intent behind the alleged offences.

Denial and legal defence

Tellis has denied all charges through his legal team, which issued a statement asserting his innocence and vowing to “vigorously contest” the allegations. “Ashley J. Tellis is a widely respected scholar and senior policy advisor. We will be vigorously contesting the allegations brought against him, specifically any insinuation of his operating on behalf of a foreign adversary,” the statement read

The detention hearing is scheduled for October 21.

The DOJ is leading the prosecution, while the FBI handled the investigative legwork and arrest.

Possible conspiracy angle?

The affidavit filed in Federal court alleges that Tellis held multiple undisclosed meetings with individuals linked to the Chinese government. While prosecutors have not formally charged him with espionage, the nature of the meetings and the sensitive documents found in his possession have led to speculation about a broader intelligence breach.

Indian politics

The arrest has ignited a political storm in India, where Tellis is both celebrated and criticised. The ruling party has accused him of being part of an “anti-India” force, while Opposition parties have called for restraint and due process.

The case remains under tight scrutiny, with intelligence agencies and diplomatic observers watching closely for further developments.

Tellis’s career has been marked by deep engagement with both US and Indian strategic communities, and he has long advocated for stronger bilateral ties.

A naturalized US citizen born in India, Tellis (64) was instrumental in the landmark Indo-US civil nuclear agreement (2008) during the George W Bush administration.

The intricacies

On the surface, Trump last month called on the country's top law enforcement official to more aggressively investigate his political adversaries, BBC reported. That was in the context of James Comey and now leading to Bolton's indictment too. Trump had hailed Comey's indictment. Who inserted Tellis' name in the adversaries list, and there lies the catch. The guy was never in conflict with any President. He was always consistent and dedicated in helping formulate America's foreign policies.

The sycophants around Trump are overenthusiastic to prove their worth. An example is Kash Patel's premature announcement of catching Kirk's assassin. Feed them with some false lead, they will go to any extent. Or the President himself played into the hands of someone? As Trump is honest, the truth will come out. Or, the Democrats will bring it out.

There is proof he worked in the best interest of the US till last. It looks like a trumped up case, a fabricated one to make him appear guilty. But the guilt is elsewhere!

The fault is that he was the architect of Indo-US relations for a long time, especially his behind-the-scenes role in the nuclear agreement.

The trouble started with his articles since a few years ago where he rightly questioned the Indian ruling party's ill-conceived, fanciful agenda of becoming a super power without the basic economic and military foundations. Which was, believably, assumed as partisan by petty minds although what was stated had strategic objectivity, even if he was partisan otherwise.

Tellis' realism contended that pursuit of super power status without foundational strength was strategically flawed. Unable to comprehend what was stated, the argument was taken as a partisan offence.

Besides, observers say, Tellis’ critique sparked controversy not because of its factual rigor, but because it challenged the imaginary, fallacious nationalist narrative that constitutes symbols and symbolic milestones. Discomfort was caused to those invested in the narrative. It proves intellectual dissent is fragile in the midst of hyper-nationalist crescendos.

His essay “India’s Great-Power Delusions” published in Foreign Affairs in July/August 2025 provided the immediate ground for getting targeted although he was seen as playing a partisan role in Indian politics for long.

The fallout

For long regarded as a bridge between US and Indian strategic communities, Tellis was a key architect of the US–India strategic partnership. His arrest could be politically weaponized by factions in both countries.

The cause and effect of Ashley Tellis’s arrest are deeply entangled with political dynamics, both domestic and international—India and the US. Politics that caused the event is shaping the fallout.

Now it is brewing in public domain as an international scandal. It can consume President Trump any time, if the Democrats get to the root of the issue. The case is no more just about one scholar.

Because implications of Ashley Tellis’s arrest are deeply entangled with political dynamics, both domestic and international.

Given Tellis’s deep ties to both US and Indian policy circles, the case could also strain bilateral trust, especially if foreign influence is confirmed.

The CCTV footage and the video circulating on social media do not indicate any serious abnormalities in takeoff or descent, it has been confirmed. The disaster is becoming curiouser and curiouser. The flight path was not curvy. And the aircraft maintained a steady, gliding descent with its nose straight and the wings perfectly level. The pilot's distress call does not specify what prevented lift and climb-out. Here are some expert opinions. The sole purpose is to raise travellers' awareness about air travel.

Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Three hundred nineteen body parts have been sent for DNA matching with relatives to determine the identities.

• The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla line provides Kashmir with all-weather connectivity and integrates the Valley with the rest of India.
• The saying 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' is now a dream come true.
• The Chenab bridge on the line, an engineering marvel, is the world's highest railway bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower. (Video: File)

A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924) (Today's headlines )

Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”

Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.

PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.

Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people. (Today's headlines )

"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...

Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.

Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.

As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.

The committee headed by justice Kurian Joseph will study Centre-State relations and make proposals to ensure foolproof separation of powers.

"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.

Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.

ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!

What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America! (Today's headlines )

PROGNOSIS: It looks a Real New Trump is emerging - courageous, balanced, powerful and disinterested. Determined to save his country from the cliff, he has done quite a few draconian things that will reduce the burden of debts of the Federal entity, like the golden handshake, stopping senseless funding, pulling out of a worthless WHO. Shutting the Education Department is another. On the other hand, running it is also not the Centre's job either (We will convincingly elaborate it in the next chapter).

In India the scene is just the opposite. Centralisation is the core agenda and identity of the ruling dispensation without which it has no existence, or in other words, it exists for that set of schemes only. A realisation of this never dawned upon any Opposition party in 2014 or any time thereafter, what to talk of being able to see it coming 70 years ago! The consequence of all this violation of basic natural law of the universe we cannot predict.

THE AMERICAN CONUNDRUM: Political venom has migrated to top echelons in the US. It was reported last year NASA has become politicised, vitiated. But NASA refuted the charge. How Boeing developed a glitch but its unmanned return was smooth. When Suni-Wilmore were stranded last June, why the return was set for February? Because that comes only after January 20! SpaceX called the shots, for itself and for Trump. Then the mission was manipulated for March for a better bargain! In between, what made Elon Musk 'predict' during campaign if Kamala Harris wins he would be in jail. In politics, it is said, "the only rule is there are no rules." Difficult times for Americans too.

The terminations are part of a large-scale exercise going on all across Fed departments and organisations to reduce wasteful Government expenditure as decided by a Trump in a mess gone berserk, and improve administrative efficiency following the whims of billionaire and his associate Elon MusK and his DOGE. It has not been shared how terminations are going to raise the efficiency bar! It looks like Trump has stolen some of the prescriptions meant for India. But the American problems are quite different.

Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See: New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)

ANALYSIS: "The standard operating procedure for deportations by aircraft used by ICE that is effective from 2012 provides for the use of restraints," says the Government. That means, it is taken for granted the US will set the standard for deportations. For another, the Government is more interested in comparing with what happened in 2012 under a different Government to justify its own compliance! No surprise, others are trampling upon us. (How we conduct ourselves inside decides, inherently, how we are treated outside) Thirdly, the Government blamed the gangs doing the business of human trafficking for the illegal migration. For all the crimes taking place in the country, let us blame the criminals! Funny! We will never move an inch forward! The mindset defines what we are.

Meanwhile, a UN-returned Congress leader Shashi Tharoor sounded like a layman when he said, "If they are citizens of India we have an obligation to take them back." Who said 'No'?. He should know that is not the issue now. Who will identify an undocumented person, and how?

The function was held indoors from 12 pm (10:30 pm IST) at the rotunda of the US Capitol building because of unusually intense cold and snow. Delivering his inaugural address, Trump remarked, “The golden age of America begins right now," and just hours later signed a slew of executive orders to redeem the election pledges.