Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday claimed that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a document and demanded clarification from the Prime Minister over the remarks attributed to Epstein.
In a post on the social media platform X, Khera described the reference as a “matter of national shame.” He said the document indicated that Prime Minister Modi had taken Epstein’s “advice” and “danced and sang in Israel for the benefit of the US president,” adding the phrase “IT WORKED!” as quoted from the text.
Khera said that any association between the Indian Prime Minister and Epstein, whom he described as a convicted human trafficker and serial sex offender, raised “serious questions of judgment, transparency, and diplomatic propriety.” He added that the reference suggested a “direct unexplained association” and could affect India’s “national dignity and international reputation.”
Seeking answers, Khera posed three questions to the Prime Minister: what advice was allegedly sought from Epstein, what was meant by acting “for the benefit of the US president” during the Israel visit, and what was implied by the phrase “IT WORKED!” He also shared a link to the document hosted on the US Department of Justice website, though he did not independently verify the claims.
There was no immediate response from the Prime Minister’s Office or the Bharatiya Janata Party regarding the allegations.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy also urged the Modi government to clarify whether the names of any Indian ministers appear in the Jeffrey Epstein files recently released by the US Justice Department. Swamy said the government must issue a clear statement, as the revelations had raised concern in India. He said that if any Indian political figures were mentioned in the files, the public had a right to know.
The controversy follows the release of a large tranche of documents on Epstein, a former financier with connections to powerful figures, after US President Donald Trump approved their disclosure. The Justice Department said the files included over three million pages, along with thousands of photos and videos. By January 30, more than 6,00,000 documents had been published online, though many potentially releasable records remain under wraps.
The released files show Epstein communicating with notable figures, including Steve Bannon, Elon Musk, and former Obama administration officials. In emails, Epstein discussed politics, travel, and personal meetings, though the context of some communications remains unclear. Musk has stated he repeatedly refused Epstein’s invitations to visit his island, while others have distanced themselves from Epstein decades ago.
The documents also provide new details about Epstein’s incarceration and death. He was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019 and was found dead in his cell just over a month later. Some notes indicate investigators questioned the appearance of his final communications as a suicide note. The files also describe how jail staff used decoys to mislead the media while transporting Epstein’s body, a detail that drew attention after his death was officially ruled a suicide.
