Epstein Files: How The Mighty Have Fallen & Holding Them To Account

After causing massive upheaval in the lives of the global elite – from Bill Gates to Deepak Chopra – the sceptre of Jeffrey Epstein is now hovering menacingly over well-known Indian political and cultural figures. Foremost among them is the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, the mention of whose name in the Epstein Files has sent shockwaves across the country.

In these files, released by the US Department of Justice, the deceased convicted sex offender Epstein has claimed that PM Modi danced and sang in Israel for Donald Trump. The email by Epstein states, “The Indian Prime minisiter modi took advice. and danced and sang in israel for the benefit of the US president. they had met a few weeks ago. . IT WORKED. !”

The email by Jeffrey Epstein to one Jabor Y had talked about PM Modi’s Israel visit in July 2017, and claimed that PM Modi “took advice”. What this advice was is in the realm of speculation.

Another prominent mention in the Epstein Files is that of Hardeep Singh Puri, a former IFS officer currently serving as the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the Modi cabinet.

As per the released documents, Hardeep Puri Singh met Jeffrey Epstein at his Manhattan townhouse at least thrice on the dates: Feb 4, 2015, Jan 6, 2016 and May 19, 2017.

All of these meetings were scheduled through Epstein’s then-assistant Lesley Groff. A fourth meeting scheduled for Jan 9, 2015, was cancelled, purportedly because of Epstein’s absence in New York.

Another one of virtual discussions between the two men dates back to June 2014. Their email talks seemingly began with Epstein writing to Puri about LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman visiting India. “Just saw your message on returning to Delhi, Jeffrey. Will be happy to assist/facilitate Reid Hoffman’s visit,” Puri replied on June 23, 2014.

In another email Epstein sent to Hoffman in September 2014, he made references to Puri. “reid – hardeep . hardeep reid, . reid hardeep is your man in india,” the email stated.

Several months after Hoffman’s planned meetings with Puri, the Indian minister outlined investment prospects in India’s Internet sector in a November 2014 email. The detailed exchange, highlighted in the US Department of Justice (DOJ) file ‘EFTA00688056.pdf,’ references “Newly elected Prime Minister Modi’s focus to revive the Indian economy” and the new government’s “Make in India” initiative.

In December 2014, Puri emailed Epstein about his return from an “exotic island.” The BJP leader expressed a desire to visit for a conversation and to share books aimed at sparking Epstein’s interest in India. Their final recorded email interaction occurred in June 2017, when Puri wrote, “Jeff, if you are back in town, I would like to drop by for a chat. I am here till the 10th.” Epstein responded, “Phone tomorw? I return 15th.”

Additionally, industrialist Anil Ambani has also been mentioned as arranging meetings with senior White House officials, including Jared Kushner – the son-in-law of President Donald Trump – in connected with a visit by PM Modi. The documents reveal that Ambani and Epstein communicated between 2017 and 2019. Ambani was introduced to Epstein by Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem in February 2017.

The government has maintained a stoic silence on the revelations about PM Modi, with a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs dated January 31, 2026 saying, “We have seen reports of an email message from the so-called Epstein files that has a reference to the Prime Minister and his visit to Israel. Beyond the fact of the Prime Minister’s official visit to Israel in July 2017, the rest of the allusions in the email are little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal, which deserve to be dismissed with the utmost contempt.”

Meanwhile, there are other Indians and Indian-origin names that have come up in the latest tranche of the million-plus pages of the Epstein Files. Some of them are given below:

• Mira Nair: The director, famous for films like Salaam Bombay, attended a party on December 21, 2009, alongside Jeffrey Epstein. Allegedly present were former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Jeff Bezos, and Jean Pigoni. Epstein was also invited to the Independent Filmmaker Project Spring Gala, where Nair served on the host committee.
• Deepak Chopra: In a July 2016 email, he inquired if Epstein was familiar with Donald Trump’s ex-wife, Marla Maples. Epstein responded that he had lost a $10,000 bet with Trump when Maples became pregnant. He also wrote an email to Epstein, saying “God is a construct. Cute girls are real.”
• Anurag Kashyap: He has been referred to as the “Bollywood Guy” in emails from the U.S. Department of Justice files, exchanged between Epstein and individuals named Giuseppe Bersani, Gino Yu, and Ornella Corazza. However, the emails do not verify whether Kashyap participated in events or met Epstein.
• Nandita Das: The actress’ name also appears in the Epstein Files. In 2015 documents, academic Jem Bendell extended an invitation to Epstein for a UK event through a newsletter that included Das as a speaker. The references do not suggest she attended with Epstein or had any direct connection, merely her potential role in a public event mentioned in the invitation.

Given the scores of names of global elite coming out with the release of the Epstein Files, one wonders who else will be named in the coming days and weeks. From Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama (mentioned 169 times) to highly-regarded American filmmaker Woody Allen – how the mighty have fallen.

The question is will any of these once-glorified figures be held to account for their links with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and punished under law? Anything less, and any glossing over of facts by pleading not guilty (and insisting no wrongdoing, only acquaintance with the deceased financier) will serve to reinforce the majority public perception that there is one set of laws for the powerful and quite another for common citizens.