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Norwegian diplomat's email to Jeffrey Epstein on 'Indian and snake' sparks outrage

Unsealed Epstein files reveal a 2015 email from Terje Rød-Larsen with a derogatory remark about Indians, sparking outrage.

Updated on: Feb 3, 2026, 13:41:18 IST
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently released three million pages of the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among them is an email apparently from Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen that contains a derogatory remark about Indians. The file suggests that Rød-Larsen made an offensive remark about Indians to Jeffrey Epstein after the former financier forwarded him an email by an Indian politician.

The Justice Department released a fresh batch of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein. (X/@Grouse_Beater)
The Justice Department released a fresh batch of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein. (X/@Grouse_Beater)

The document claims that Rød-Larsen wrote, “Have you heard the saying: when you meet an Indian and a snake, kill the Indian first!” in his response to an email to Jeffrey Epstein, dated December 25, 2015.

Also Read: What Prince Harry said about Uncle Andrew’s ‘shameful scandal’ in his book Spare

Who is Terje Rød-Larsen?

The Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen was president of the prestigious International Peace Institute and resigned in 2020 after he was linked to Jeffrey Epstein. The politician was also a former United Nations envoy.

Social media is outraged:

The email triggered a massive backlash on social media. An individual wrote, “This is too f**ked up.” Another tweeted, “They hate Indians, all of them.”

A look at Jeffrey Epstein investigation:

Federal prosecutors prepared an indictment against Epstein in 2007. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to “one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18” and was sentenced to 18 months in jail but released in 2009. For the next decade, several of his victims came forward and filed lawsuits against him.

In 2018, a news report again renewed the public's interest in Epstein, and in 2019, he was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges. In 2019, Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in New York City. His death was ruled a suicide.

(With inputs from AP)

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.

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