Hardeep Puri hits back at Rahul Gandhi over Epstein Files remark, calls allegations ‘buffoonery’

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri strongly rejected allegations made by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Epstein Files. Puri clarified that the Prime Minister has never met or interacted with Jeffrey Epstein and stressed that the Ministry of External Affairs has already dismissed such claims. He also addressed mentions of an industrialist, stating investigations in India are unrelated to Epstein’s criminal cases. Puri acknowledged meeting Epstein four times between 2009 and 2017 in connection with UN-related work, asserting there were no independent meetings and denying any association with Epstein’s alleged crimes or misconduct.