Politics | Congress Demands Puri's Resignation Over Alleged Epstein Links

The Congress party demanded the immediate resignation of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today, following accusations of extensive alleged links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The opposition party claimed Mr. Puri had 62 email exchanges and 14 meetings with Epstein between 2014 and 2017.

Allegations and Demand for Resignation

Addressing a press conference, Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera alleged that Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri engaged in 62 email exchanges and held 14 meetings with convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from 2014 to 2017. The Congress party called for Mr. Puri's immediate resignation, stating he should clarify the nature of these interactions.

Minister's Denial

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri strongly denied the charges leveled against him by the Congress party today. Mr. Puri asserted that the accusations concerning alleged links with Jeffrey Epstein are politically motivated and described them as "innuendo." He has stated that any interactions were professional, occurred while he was a private citizen, and were unrelated to Epstein's criminal activities.

Opposition Questions Capacity and Purpose

The Congress party raised concerns about the nature and intent of Mr. Puri's alleged 14 meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. Specifically, the opposition questioned the capacity in which Mr. Puri met Epstein in 2014, noting that some of these meetings allegedly occurred soon after the Modi government assumed office in May 2014. Congress leader Pawan Khera also questioned whether Mr. Puri had shared government policies with Epstein, despite claiming to interact as a private citizen.

Background of the Allegations

Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted American sex offender who died in custody in 2019. The allegations against Minister Puri refer to contacts reportedly occurring between 2014 and 2017, with records linked to US investigations into Epstein's sex trafficking network. Experts caution that the appearance of a name in such records does not automatically imply criminal involvement.

Key Takeaways

• The Congress party demanded Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's resignation today over alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Accusations include 62 email exchanges and 14 meetings between Mr. Puri and Epstein from 2014 to 2017, as alleged by the Congress.
• Minister Puri denied the allegations, characterizing them as politically motivated and asserting his interactions were professional and as a private citizen.
• The opposition questioned the purpose and capacity of these alleged meetings, particularly those in 2014 after the Modi government took office.

People Also Ask

• Q: What are the specific allegations against Hardeep Singh Puri?

  A: The Congress party alleged that Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had 62 email exchanges and 14 meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2014 and 2017. They have demanded his immediate resignation.

• Q: How did Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri respond to the accusations?

  A: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri strongly denied the charges today, stating that the accusations regarding alleged links with Jeffrey Epstein are politically motivated. He has maintained that his interactions were professional and as a private citizen.

• Q: When did the alleged meetings between Puri and Epstein occur?

  A: The Congress party alleged that the meetings and email exchanges between Mr. Puri and Jeffrey Epstein occurred between 2014 and 2017.

• Q: Why is the Congress party questioning the 2014 meetings?

  A: The Congress party specifically questioned the capacity and intent of Mr. Puri's alleged meetings with Jeffrey Epstein in 2014, noting that these contacts purportedly began soon after the Modi government assumed office.

Last updated: February 18, 2026 08:37 AM UTC