Union Minister Hardeep Puri Clarifies Jeffrey Epstein Connections Amid Political Allegations
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has publicly addressed allegations regarding his connections with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, stating that he met Epstein "only three to four times" as a private citizen during his eight-year stay in the United States. The clarification came in response to accusations made by opposition leaders in the Lok Sabha.
Context of Meetings and Delegation Role
Puri emphasized that these interactions occurred before he joined the Union Cabinet in 2017, with details already available in the public domain. He explained that the meetings were part of his involvement with the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM), which he engaged with after retiring from the Indian Foreign Service.
"I was secretary general of the Independent Commission on Multilateralism, and my boss Terje Rød-Larsen knew Epstein. As part of the ICM delegation, I met Epstein 3-4 times," Puri stated during a press conference. He firmly asserted that his interactions had no connection whatsoever to the criminal activities Epstein was involved in.
Political Allegations and Email Correspondence
The controversy stems from statements made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, who referenced US Department of Justice files naming Puri in connection with Epstein. Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was under pressure due to Puri's links with the convicted offender.
In his defense, Puri revealed specific email exchanges:
- He sent an email to LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman in November 2014 discussing "a terrific opportunity for internet-based economic activities in India," with Epstein copied on the communication.
- In a separate December 2014 email exchange with Terje Rød-Larsen, Epstein referred to Puri as "two-faced" because the minister showed no interest in his activities.
Minister's Direct Response to Opposition Leaders
Puri expressed frustration that his explanations were being ignored, noting: "At least read why my name appears in it. I even sent a note to Rahul a day after he referred to the Epstein files during a brief interaction with me at the Constitution Day celebrations in the Central Hall of Parliament on November 26, 2025. But he chose to ignore that note."
The minister reiterated that during the period in question, he was not part of the government but rather a private citizen engaged in international multilateral work. His statements aim to clarify the nature and context of his limited interactions with Epstein, separating them from the serious crimes committed by the convicted sex offender.
