Congress leaders on Wednesday intensified their attack on Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri over a purported photograph showing him with Jeffrey Epstein, demanding answers from the Centre over the alleged association. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition RahulGandhi and senior Congress leaders questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported interaction, while Puri had previously denied any connection to Epstein's criminal activities.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi linked the controversy to the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Mumbai and questioned whether the alleged revelations could be used to exert pressure on Indian political leaders.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 21, 2026Rubio goes to Mumbai.
The US DOJ releases a picture of Epstein and Puri.
Dear BJP and RSS workers,
which anti-national traitor do you think they're blackmailing?रुबियो मुंबई पहुँचे।
US DOJ ने एपस्टीन और पुरी की तस्वीर जारी की।
प्रिय BJP और RSS कार्यकर्ताओं,
आपको क्या लगता…
“Rubio goes to Mumbai. The US DOJ releases a picture of Epstein and Puri. Dear BJP and RSS workers, which anti-national traitor do you think they're blackmailing?” Gandhi wrote.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what he described as Puri's close ties with Epstein. Venugopal accused the government of failing to act despite the allegations and questioned its position on women's safety.
“PM Modi did nothing despite knowing full well about Hardeep Puri's close ties with known international pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Truly disgusted by the latest revelations proving that Puri met Epstein in the same rooms where Epstein carried out his heinous crimes,” Venugopal wrote on X.
He further criticised the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over what he called their silence on the issue.
“Modi-Shah's complete silence and inaction on this only points to their criminal indifference to such allegations against their own Cabinet Minister. What can women expect from a Government that shields and nurtures a man with close ties to the worst sexual predator known to human civilisation?” he said.
Venugopal also sought a response from Modi amid ongoing discussions on an India-US trade agreement, questioning whether the controversy could affect negotiations between the two countries.
“There is also an urgent need for PM Modi to speak up on this issue, because US President Donald Trump has also declared that India and the US are extremely close to signing a trade deal,” he said.
Questioning the possible implications for the agreement, Venugopal added, “Do these revelations have any bearing on the final contours of the deal? Given how lopsided the previous deal was, there is every chance that the Compromised PM will once again surrender India's interests to shield himself and those close to him.”
Congress leader Srinivas BV also questioned the timing of the purported photograph's circulation, linking it to Rubio's Mumbai visit and the ongoing India-US trade discussions.
“Yesterday, the US Secretary of State landed in 'Mumbai', and right at that very moment, pictures of Hardeep "Epstein" Puri emerged from the US Justice Department's files. Could there be some VIDEO coming out too to settle the technicalities of the US Trade Deal...?” Srinivas wrote on X.
Earlier on Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also raised questions about Puri's alleged interaction with Epstein after the photograph circulated on social media.
“Modiji, one minister, Hardeep Puri, is meeting Jeffrey Epstein alone? Whose message is he carrying in the meeting? This is the beginning. Watch ahead to see what's about to happen. @RSSorg regime change will happen! Jai Hind!” Raut wrote.
Puri had rejected allegations raised by Rahul Gandhi regarding the Epstein files in February, describing the claims as baseless and asserting that Prime Minister Modi had “no connection” with the files.
Clarifying his interactions with Epstein, Puri had said he met him four times over nine years, between 2009 and 2017. He explained that the meetings took place in the context of his professional engagements, including his association with the International Peace Institute (IPI).
“He told me your name is in interesting places. I had sent him a note clarifying that between 2009, when I went to New York, and 2017, I met Epstein a total of 4 times. Four times in 9 years, I was a member of the IPI appointed to see if the UN is fit for purpose on its 75th anniversary. I had no independent meetings with Epstein,” Puri had said.
Addressing Epstein's criminal activities, the minister added, “The allegations against Epstein are about sexual favour; they are about paedophilia, about other wrongdoings...I have nothing to do with that.”