New Delhi, May 28 -- A former senior CIA official has been arrested after being accused of stealing hundreds of gold bars worth more than $40 million from the federal government, which the investigators found stashed in his Virginia residence.

David Rush, the CIA official with top secret-level clearance, was arrested and charged with criminal theft of public money last week, according to federal court filings. He is awaiting a detention hearing.

According to The New York Times, citing court filings, the only charge against Rush is that he inflated his academic credentials and obtained military leave pay worth tens of thousands of dollars. The authorities say he falsely claimed to be a member of the Navy Reserve when he was discharged. ...