Freshly released files from the US Department of Justice linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have sparked controversy after an email surfaced that mentions Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The email, dated July 2017, has triggered political debate in India and drawn a sharp response from New Delhi.
According to reports, one of the emails attributed to Epstein refers to Modi’s visit to Israel in July 2017, the first ever by an Indian prime minister.
In the message, Epstein claimed that Modi had acted on advice linked to him ahead of the visit, suggesting the trip was designed to benefit relations with the United States.
The reference has circulated widely online and raised questions because of the sensitive timing. Modi visited Israel from July 4 to 6, 2017, shortly after meeting then US President Donald Trump in Washington.
India rejects claims, calls email baseless
India’s Ministry of External Affairs strongly rejected the suggestion made in the email. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the only factual detail in the message was Modi’s official visit to Israel, describing the rest as “unfounded” and “misleading.”
Opposition seeks answers as global names surface
Meanwhile, opposition parties seized on the email to criticize the prime minister. The Indian National Congress called the reference deeply embarrassing and demanded an explanation, saying any alleged link with Epstein raised serious concerns about national dignity and international credibility.
The party pointed out that Epstein’s email was written just days after Modi’s Israel visit and argued that the timing warranted further clarification.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He had earlier been convicted in 2008 for soliciting sex from a minor. The newly released files also mention several global figures, including Bill Gates and Richard Branson, underscoring the wide reach of the investigation.
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