A prominent US scholar of Indian origin, Ashley J Tellis, who was arrested earlier this week over allegations of retaining classified government documents and meeting Chinese officials, has denied all charges and his lawyers affirmed that they will contest the case vigorously.

Tellis, who served in senior positions under former President George W Bush and continued as an unpaid adviser to the State Department , was taken into custody on Saturday and formally charged on Monday. The Indian-born, naturalised American faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

“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," his

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