Epstein Ties: Congress Slams PM Modi Over Hardeep Puri Photo
Congress leader K.C. Venugopal demands answers from PM Modi after a US Justice Department photo links Minister Hardeep Puri to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Indian political landscape has been shaken by a fresh controversy as the Congress party demanded immediate accountability from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s alleged connections to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The storm erupted following the release of a photograph by the US Justice Department, which appears to show the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the company of the disgraced financier.
Venugopal Demands Answers from PM Modi
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice public outrage over the surfaced image. Venugopal questioned why the Prime Minister has remained silent and inactive despite the gravity of these alleged associations. The Congress leader argued that such ties are deeply problematic and directly undermine the central government's public stance and claims regarding women's safety.
Opposition Intensifies Pressure
The critique wasn't limited to the Congress. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also entered the fray, challenging Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to clarify the nature of his relationship with Epstein. Raut specifically questioned whether these interactions were sanctioned by the Prime Minister, pointing out that the released photograph suggests a level of proximity that contradicts previous claims of limited professional contact.
The History of the Association
This is not the first time the Minister's name has appeared in connection with the Epstein files. In February 2026, unsealed documents and emails revealed a business relationship spanning three years, from June 2014 to June 2017. These records indicated at least three separate meetings held at Epstein’s townhouse in Manhattan. The discussions reportedly revolved around:
- The "Digital India" initiative.
- Potential investments from Silicon Valley.
Hardeep Puri's Defense
Responding to the allegations, Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has maintained that his interactions were strictly professional. He previously confirmed meeting Epstein on four occasions over an eight-year period, asserting that he was part of a delegation and that these were legitimate outreach efforts involving other prominent figures, such as LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman.
The Minister has explicitly denied two major points of contention:
- He claims he never met Jeffrey Epstein alone.
- He asserts that he never visited Little St. James, Epstein's private island.
Regarding the most recent photograph released by the US Justice Department, Puri stated that he cannot recall the specific meeting captured in the image. However, he characterized the photo as showing him in professional attire and within a professional setting, distancing himself from any personal or illicit association.