Ashley Tellis, Indian-origin US scholar facing espionage charges over secret files, freed on $1.5 million bond: Report

In a 14-page memorandum, Tellis's lawyers argued that investigators had ‘misinterpreted routine professional duties, such as liaison work and international travel, as clandestine activity.’

A US district court outside Washington DC has ordered the pre-trial release of noted Indian-American foreign policy expert Ashley Tellis in an alleged espionage case, after his legal team assured full cooperation with authorities and highlighted his "lifelong dedication to American national security," The Times of India reported.

During an initial court appearance, Tellis's defence attorneys portrayed the charges as a case of prosecutorial overreach by the US Justice Department, arguing that their client's "scholarly curiosity" - rather than any malicious intent - led to the inadvertent retention of classified documents found at his home, according to TOI. They said the materials were routine papers stemming from his advisory work and were stored unintentionally amid a busy schedule.

The defence vowed to "vigorously contest" the espionage accusations, characterizing the prosecution as an instance of excessive counterintelligence zeal during heightened US-China tensions.

In a 14-page memorandum, Tellis's lawyers argued that investigators had "misinterpreted routine professional duties, such as liaison work and international travel, as clandestine activity." They asserted that his interactions with diplomats, including Chinese officials, were "lawful and expected" for someone in his position as a foreign policy scholar. The defence also downplayed the FBI's focus on a "red gift bag" allegedly exchanged with a Chinese delegation, saying it contained nothing more than "a small gift of tea," a common courtesy in diplomatic and academic circles.

"To read something sinister into that gesture is unfounded," the filing stated, as quoted by TOI.

The US Justice Department, meanwhile, described the matter as "a serious breach of trust," according to The Times of India. It emphasised that protecting national defense secrets was "a top priority," and said Tellis's arrest served as "a stark warning to anyone thinking about undermining national security." Officials said the FBI carried out a court-approved search to prevent "highly classified defence information from falling into the wrong hands."

Tellis's attorneys, however, firmly denied suggestions that he acted on behalf of a foreign power. They maintained that his meetings with Chinese diplomats - which investigators alleged were linked to sharing classified data - were legitimate academic discussions, openly declared during his security clearance renewals. The defense also underscored that Tellis had cooperated voluntarily with federal agents prior to his arrest and presented minimal flight risk, citing his 40-year US residency, marriage to a US citizen, close family ties in the Washington area, and significant personal assets, TOI reported.

Judge Lindsey Robinson Vaala of the Eastern District of Virginia granted Tellis conditional release under strict supervision. The order requires him to surrender his passport, comply with travel restrictions, submit to electronic monitoring, and limit his internet access. His wife, Dhun Tellis, co-signed a $1.5 million secured bond, backed by the couple's residence. A preliminary hearing is set for November 4, 2025, The Times of India added.