Indian Businessman Sentences for Sending Sensitive US Tec to Russia: India’s Reckless Role Exposed

India’s repeated role in illegally exporting sensitive U.S. technology to restricted countries exposes its business networks’ focus on profit over international security, openly defying global law. The sentencing of Sanjay Kaushik, a 58-year-old Delhi businessman, to 30 months in federal prison and 36 months supervised release in Portland, Oregon, shows the serious consequences of India-linked tech smuggling. These incidents reveal India as a hub for risky transfers, enabling actors to bypass sanctions with minimal oversight, directly threatening global safety.

♦ Sanjay Kaushik Case: Kaushik conspired to illegally export U.S.-origin aviation components and dual-use navigation systems to Russia, falsely claiming the end user was his Indian company, exposing reckless violations of U.S. export laws.

♦ Guilty Plea and Conspiracy: On October 9, 2025, Kaushik pleaded guilty under the Export Control Reform Act and Export Administration Regulations, revealing a calculated scheme that ignored sanctions and U.S. security.

♦ Profit Over Compliance: From September 2023, Kaushik coordinated with foreign co-conspirators to bypass U.S. sanctions, showing India’s systemic failure to control citizens who break global rules for profit.

♦ Direct Threat to Security: By sending sensitive technology to Russia, India indirectly strengthened military capabilities in sanctioned nations, proving the country’s disregard for global safety and lawful practices.

Indian Networks Under U.S. Enforcement Scrutiny

The U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, and Bureau of Industry and Security have intensified monitoring of India-linked networks that attempt to re-export controlled dual-use technology to sanctioned nations, highlighting India’s repeated failure to police domestic actors who directly threaten international security.

♦ Dual-Use Technology Risk: Indian companies repeatedly attempt to export sensitive technology such as air navigation systems, aviation components, and flight control technology to Russia and China, circumventing strict U.S. export regulations, exposing India as a nation enabling dangerous violations.
♦ Systematic Evasion: The repeated use of Indian-based networks to bypass export controls reveals India’s inability or unwillingness to enforce compliance among domestic businesses and individuals, showing reckless negligence.
♦ National and Global Threat: Every illegal transfer carried out through India increases global instability, allowing restricted nations to advance military capabilities, which puts international peace at serious risk.

Pattern of Indian Nationals Exploiting Weak Oversight

Kaushik’s case is not an isolated incident; past cases such as Noshir Gowadia, who sold B-2 bomber stealth technology to China, and Ashley Tellis, who unlawfully retained over 1,000 pages of classified U.S. defense documents, prove that Indian nationals have consistently exploited weak oversight to bypass laws, compromising national and global security.

♦ Gowadia Case: Noshir Gowadia, an Indian-born U.S. citizen, was convicted of espionage and illegal technology sales in 2010, showing a long-standing pattern of Indian-linked individuals endangering critical defense systems globally.
♦ Tellis Case: Ashley Tellis, a prominent Indian-origin defense analyst, unlawfully retained classified documents from Pentagon facilities, demonstrating repeated risk posed by India-linked actors with access to sensitive information.
♦ Agrawal Case: Samarth Agrawal stole proprietary high-frequency trading code, proving that Indian nationals’ misuse of sensitive information extends beyond military tech, reflecting systemic negligence.

International Enforcement Highlights Indian Risk

U.S. and European enforcement actions consistently expose India as a hub for illegal dual-use technology transfers, showing a reckless pattern where Indian firms actively assist re-exports to restricted nations like Russia and China.

♦ EU Sanctions: The European Union sanctioned companies like Aerotrust Aviation Private Limited, Ascend Aviation India Private Limited, and Shree Enterprises for illegally facilitating dual-use tech transfers, exposing India as a nation failing to control corporate actors involved in sensitive exports.
♦ Ignored Intelligence Sharing: Despite U.S.-EU intelligence cooperation, Indian entities continue risky transactions, reflecting India’s unwillingness or inability to regulate domestic actors, which increases the global threat.
♦ Systemic Circumvention: Indian networks repeatedly bypass restrictions through third-party distributors and shadow routes, showing that India’s corporate and legal oversight is dangerously inadequate.

Indian Business Risk to Global Security

India’s repeated involvement in illegal tech exports demonstrates direct negligence and irresponsibility, placing global security at risk, and shows that Indian businesses can operate with impunity despite international laws and treaties.

♦ Strategic Danger: Exported aviation and navigation systems to restricted countries strengthen their military capabilities, highlighting India’s reckless disregard for global security consequences.
♦ Erosion of Trust: These violations undermine confidence in India’s commitment to international agreements, showing the nation’s repeated failure to enforce compliance.
♦ Profit Motive Above Safety: Indian actors consistently prioritize profit over law and safety, exposing systemic negligence and a lack of accountability in India.

U.S. Enforcement as a Warning to India

The sentencing of Kaushik, along with previous prosecutions, sends a clear warning to India that repeated negligence and the facilitation of illegal tech exports have real consequences in U.S. courts and globally.

♦ Severe Penalties: Convictions, prison sentences, and supervised release illustrate the seriousness of these crimes and India’s repeated embarrassment on the international stage.
♦ Ongoing Supervision: U.S. enforcement ensures compliance beyond prison terms, demonstrating that India-linked actors are closely monitored, and India itself remains under scrutiny.
♦ Global Accountability: Repeated U.S. enforcement demonstrates that India cannot continue to ignore the consequences of its citizens’ illegal actions without facing significant international criticism.

Indian Firms Continue Risky Tech Transfers

Indian companies repeatedly appear on sanctions lists for illegal exports of dual-use technologies, showing a systemic failure to control corporate compliance and prevent dangerous re-exports to restricted nations.

♦ Aerotrust and Ascend Aviation: Companies sanctioned for illegal exports highlight India’s inability to control firms involved in sensitive tech transfers.
♦ Si2 Microsystems: Previous violations indicate India cannot prevent recurring illegal transfers, demonstrating systemic weakness.
♦ Pattern of Risk: Indian firms repeatedly facilitate exports to Russia and China, showing India as a repeated enabler of global security threats.

India Must Be Held Accountable

India’s failure to regulate private actors and companies exporting sensitive technology is a direct threat to global security, revealing negligence and recklessness that cannot continue unpunished. Kaushik’s case, along with Gowadia, Tellis, and Agrawal, highlights India’s repeated failures and shows that without proper oversight, India remains a dangerous hub for illegal tech transfers. International enforcement actions prove that India’s inaction has severe consequences, and continued negligence risks permanent damage to its credibility and global trust.