in 1935, emil bodnăraș returned illegally to romania to carry out special missions entrusted by the main intelligence directorate (gru) - soviet foreign military-intelligence agency. however, he was recognized on the train and denounced by one of his former schoolmates. in may 1935 he was sentenced to 10 years of hard work for deserting in time of peace, theft of official acts and crimes against state security. after re-judging, the sentence was reduced to only five years of imprisonment. he was imprisoned in aiud, galați, brașov, doftana and caransebeș. at doftana he became friends with gheorghiu-dej , and in 1940 he became a member of the rcp.