Opposition parties in India, particularly the INDIA bloc led by Congress, intensified their criticism of Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on February 13, 2026 (note: the article mentions 2025, likely a reporting error given the current date), demanding his resignation over his documented interactions with Jeffrey Epstein between 2014 and 2016.
Key Allegations
- Unauthorized Meetings: Puri, then a retired Indian Foreign Service officer with no official role, met Epstein multiple times in the US. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera questioned whose “brief” Puri was carrying, noting that three Indian ambassadors in Washington during that period avoided Epstein.
- Foreign Policy Influence: Epstein emailed about “strong opinions” on Middle East issues, allegedly tied to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s visit to India. Khera claimed this implied Epstein swayed Indian diplomacy, bypassing PM Narendra Modi and then-External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
- Premature Disclosure of Digital India: Emails suggest Puri shared details of the ‘Digital India’ initiative with Epstein in November 2014—eight months before its official July 2015 launch. Epstein then forwarded this to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.
- Misleading Statements: Puri allegedly sought meetings with Epstein via emails, contradicting his public denials.
Political Response
Protests erupted outside Parliament, with slogans inside the Lok Sabha causing an adjournment. Khera held a press conference at Congress HQ, warning more Epstein documents could surface. This fits a pattern of opposition attacks on BJP leaders amid recent Epstein file releases, though no evidence confirms wrongdoing by Puri beyond associations.
These claims stem from recently unsealed US court documents on Epstein’s network. Puri has defended the meetings as casual social encounters, denying any policy influence. No formal investigation has been announced by the government.
For context on Epstein files, check official releases from the Southern District of New York court or reliable sources like The Hindu or Indian Express for updates. What’s your take on this, or do you want details on similar past controversies?
