‘Who’s U.S. blackmailing?’ asks Rahul Gandhi over timing of Epstein-Puri photo release

The release of a photograph of Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has triggered fresh questions from the Opposition, with the timing coinciding with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Mumbai.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) questioned the timing of the release and asked whom the U.S. was trying to “blackmail”.

“Rubio goes to Mumbai. The U.S. DOJ releases a picture of Epstein and Puri,” Mr. Gandhi said in a post on X. “Dear BJP and RSS workers, which anti-national traitor do you think they’re blackmailing?” he added.

Mamata Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also targeted Mr. Puri, referring to the Minister’s earlier statement that he had met Epstein three or four times as part of official delegations.

“Epstein Paaji told us he only met Epstein as part of a delegation 3-4 times. Guess the other delegates were hiding under the table in these 2 photos, Paaji,” Ms. Moitra said in a post on X, sharing photographs of Mr. Puri with Epstein.

“Have some shame & stop attending Cabinet meetings now at least,” she added in another post.

Congress leader Pawan Khera also questioned Mr. Puri’s account of his interactions with Epstein. Citing documents available on the DoJ website, Mr. Khera claimed that 62 emails had been exchanged between the two between 2014 and 2017.

“14 meetings and extensive interactions — that we know of so far — were held, and many of those were one-on-one meetings. The recent photos have only strengthened our claims while questions persist,” Mr. Khera said in a post on X.