In a sharp rebuttal during the ongoing Budget Session, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday dismissed as “baseless” the allegations leveled by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding the infamous Jeffrey Epstein files.
The clash, which took place in the Lok Sabha on February 11, 2026, saw Puri label Gandhi’s conduct as “buffoonery” after the Congress leader left the House immediately after making his remarks.
The Allegations: “Epstein Files” in Parliament
During his speech, Rahul Gandhi brought up the recently released unredacted documents from the U.S. Department of Justice, commonly known as the Epstein Files.
- The “Introduction” Question: Gandhi directly targeted Puri, asking, “I would like to ask Hardeep Puri, who introduced [Anil Ambani] to Epstein? I know who introduced him, and Hardeep Puri knows who introduced him.”
- The “Pressure” Claim: Gandhi alleged that these files contain references that give the U.S. a “certain grip” on the Indian leadership, specifically citing the India-U.S. trade deal and energy security as areas where India had “conceded ground” due to external pressure.
- Businessman in Focus: Gandhi questioned why industrialist Anil Ambani was not in jail despite his name appearing in correspondence related to the convicted sex offender.
Hardeep Puri’s Counter-Attack
Responding later in the day, Hardeep Singh Puri did not hold back, contrasting two types of leaders: those who work 24/7 to transform the country and those who “occasionally come to the country” to make noise.
- “Random Name-Dropping”: Puri clarified that Epstein’s files are full of criminal wrongdoings and pedophilia, with which he had zero connection. He dismissed the mention of his name as “random name-dropping” by a criminal trying to sound influential.
- Misspelled Identity: BJP spokespersons previously pointed out that Epstein had even misspelled Puri’s name in the alleged emails from 2014, highlighting the “bogus” nature of the claims.
- The “Walkout” Habit: Puri criticized Gandhi for his “hit-and-run” tactics. “He has a habit of making baseless allegations… he left after his own speech today,” Puri noted, referring to Gandhi’s departure before the government could offer a substantive reply.
Context: The Epstein Files Transparency Act
The controversy is rooted in the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in late 2025.
- Release: Over 3 million documents were released in early 2026.
- Indian Names: Leaked emails from 2014 and 2017 suggested Epstein attempted to arrange meetings for Indian “leadership” and business figures to connect with U.S. officials like Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon.
- MEA Stance: The Ministry of External Affairs has consistently dismissed these as the “trashy ruminations of a convicted criminal” that deserve “utmost contempt.”