India’s opposition has criticised a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in newly released documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling it a “national shame,” while the government has firmly rejected any suggestion of a link.
The controversy followed the release of fresh files by the U.S. Department of Justice, which included an email attributed to Epstein. According to The Jerusalem Post, the email mentions Modi’s 2017 state visit to Israel, the first by an Indian prime minister.
The email claims Modi acted on Epstein’s advice during the Israel visit. Indian authorities have dismissed that assertion.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the only verifiable fact in the document is Modi’s official trip to Israel. Officials described the remaining claims as baseless and misleading.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the remarks reflect the musings of a convicted criminal and stressed there is no evidence of any advisory role or meaningful contact between Modi and Epstein.
'Allusions in the email are little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal, which deserve to be dismissed with the utmost contempt', India's foreign ministry spox dismisses Epstein files claims linking PM Modi to disgraced financierpic.twitter.com/aoDuEZwsbX
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 31, 2026Indian Opposition Demands Explanation
Despite the government’s denial, opposition parties have seized on the reference to press for clarification.
The Indian National Congress criticised the prime minister, saying any alleged association with Epstein damages India’s national dignity. In a statement, the party cited the email’s claim that Modi took Epstein’s advice before the Israel visit.
Congress noted that Modi travelled to Israel from July 4 to 6, 2017, and said the email was written days after the trip. The party also pointed out that Modi met then-U.S. President Donald Trump in June 2017, arguing that this raised questions that require answers.
The opposition said the issue affects India’s international credibility and called on the prime minister to clarify the claims referenced in the document.
🚨🇮🇳 🇮🇱 🇺🇸BREAKING: Modi's Name in Epstein Files:
Epstein Praised the Indian PM for Supporting Israel in Declassified Emails. pic.twitter.com/2fkrKSLD6w
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) February 1, 2026Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He had earlier served a jail sentence in 2008 for soliciting paid sex from a minor.
The latest document release includes references to numerous high-profile figures. Among the names appearing in the files are Trump, Bill Gates, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and British entrepreneur Richard Branson. The documents do not establish wrongdoing by those mentioned.
Indian officials reiterated that unverified references in document dumps should not be treated as evidence. They urged caution and stressed that the government rejects any implied connection between Modi and Epstein.
