EPSTEIN PHOTOGRAPH IGNITES FRESH POLITICAL FIRESTORM AS RAHUL GANDHI QUESTIONS MODI GOVERNMENT’S SILENCE OVER HARDEEP PURI
October 21, 2026
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 21: The Congress on Wednesday launched a sharp political attack on the Narendra Modi government after an undated photograph purportedly showing Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri sitting across a table from convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein circulated online. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi questioned whether the United States was using information about an Indian political figure to exert pressure, while Congress leaders demanded answers from the government over Puri’s past interactions with Epstein.
In a post on X, Gandhi referred to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Mumbai and the reported release of the photograph by the US Department of Justice. Addressing BJP and RSS supporters, he asked which “anti-national traitor” the United States might be blackmailing. His remarks escalated the opposition’s allegations linking the Epstein files to questions about the government’s position in its dealings with Washington.
Congress general secretary in charge of organisation K. C. Venugopal also shared the photograph and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for what he described as their silence and inaction. He alleged that the latest disclosure raised further questions about Puri’s interactions with Epstein and called for the government to respond.
Venugopal additionally questioned whether the developments could have any bearing on the proposed India-US trade agreement, pointing to the timing of the photograph’s circulation and the ongoing discussions between the two countries.
Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera argued that the photograph complicated Puri’s earlier explanation that his meetings with Epstein had taken place as part of a delegation. Khera claimed that records released through the US Justice Department showed a substantially larger number of communications and meetings than Puri had publicly acknowledged.
According to Khera, the files contained at least 62 exchanges of emails between Epstein and Puri during the period from 2014 to 2017. He also alleged that the records indicated 14 meetings and extensive interactions, including some one-to-one meetings. Khera demanded that Puri disclose the full nature and purpose of those interactions.
Congress social media department head Supriya Shrinate questioned Puri’s earlier account of his meetings with Epstein and criticised the government’s decision to retain him in the Union Cabinet. Other Congress leaders, including Seva Dal chief Srinivas B. V., also attacked the government over the photograph and demanded political accountability.
The controversy follows earlier exchanges between the Congress and Puri over the latter’s name appearing in the Epstein files. Puri has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein on a few occasions but denied any connection between those interactions and Epstein’s criminal activities. He has maintained that his communications concerned professional matters and that allegations against him are baseless.
The latest photograph has intensified the political dispute, with the Congress arguing that the government must explain the extent of Puri’s association with Epstein. However, the circulation of a photograph or the appearance of a name in released records does not, by itself, establish involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
The controversy has also revived questions about transparency, ministerial accountability and the possible intersection of international political pressure with India-US relations. The Congress is demanding answers from the Prime Minister and the petroleum minister, while the government’s response to the latest allegations remains central to the unfolding political confrontation.
