KEY POINTS
- Pawan Khera claims email referenced Modi’s 2017 Israel visit.
- Message allegedly mentions Epstein’s “advice” to Indian prime minister.
- Claims include acting “for the benefit of the US president”.
- Congress calls controversy a matter of national honour.
- Alleged link seen as damaging India’s global image.
NEW DELHI: India’s main opposition party, the Congress, has sought an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi following allegations by a senior party leader that the prime minister was referenced in documents linked to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced American financier convicted of sex offences.
Congress demands explanation
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged on Friday that an email attributed to Epstein mentioned Modi in connection with his 2017 visit to Israel.
According to Khera, the message suggested that Modi had sought Epstein’s “advice” ahead of the trip and included remarks implying actions taken “for the benefit of the US president,” ending with the phrase “IT WORKED!”
Calling the claims deeply embarrassing, Khera said the issue went beyond routine political sparring and touched on matters of national honour, diplomatic propriety and public accountability.
Diplomatic impropriety
In a post on social media platform X, Khera argued that the alleged reference pointed to an unexplained association between the Indian prime minister and Epstein, warning that such claims — if left unaddressed — could damage India’s international standing.
He urged Modi to clarify what advice was allegedly sought, what was meant by acting “for the benefit of the US president,” and what the phrase “IT WORKED!” was intended to convey.
Epstein files controversy
Khera said the email was part of material he claimed was hosted on the website of the US Department of Justice and was written shortly after Modi’s Israel visit from July 4 to 6, 2017.
He also alleged that Modi had met US President Donald Trump shortly before the Israel trip.
Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, has come to symbolise the dark nexus of power, privilege and unaccountability within global elite circles.
Power, privilege and scrutiny
Documents released after Epstein’s death — commonly referred to as the “Epstein files” — have repeatedly dragged influential individuals and governments into controversy worldwide.
While legal experts caution that the appearance of a name in such material does not itself establish wrongdoing, critics argue that the disclosures highlight how powerful figures often evade meaningful scrutiny.
Modi under pressure
In India’s case, opposition leaders say even an alleged reference linking Prime Minister Modi to Epstein is politically damaging, striking at New Delhi’s so-called image of moral authority and clean governance.
They argue the controversy undermines India’s claims of transparency and ethical leadership on the global stage.
Analysts note that the issue places Modi in a politically precarious position: responding risks amplifying the allegations, while silence allows opponents to portray India’s leadership as evasive and unwilling to answer serious questions — further denting its credibility abroad.
Silence or response
The Congress party said it would continue pressing for answers, while urging relevant authorities to verify the authenticity and context of the documents cited, insisting that clarity was essential to protect India’s national dignity and international reputation.
