Met Epstein once, exchanged only one email, no link to crimes: Hardeep Singh Puri

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has responded to allegations made by Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi that his name appears in the Epstein files. Puri admitted that he had met Jeffrey Epstein, but said the meeting took place when he was part of a delegation. He clarified that it happened while he was working for a non-profit organisation. According to him, Rahul Gandhi has exaggerated the matter. The minister also said that he had exchanged only one email with Epstein and had no connection with Epstein’s crimes.

Speaking to the media, Puri said that out of nearly three million emails, there were only three or four references to him. He repeated that he met Epstein only as part of an official delegation and called Rahul Gandhi’s allegations baseless. He added that he had no interest in Epstein’s activities and said, “I am not that kind of person.”

Rahul Gandhi had raised serious allegations against the government both inside Parliament and before the media. He claimed that the names of Union Minister Hardeep Puri and industrialist Anil Ambani appeared in the Epstein files. He also mentioned that there is an ongoing case against the Adani Group in the United States. Rahul said these issues are putting direct pressure on the Prime Minister and alleged that certain aspects of the trade agreement with the US were unusual and not something a Prime Minister would normally agree to.