Newly released documents from the US Justice Department have drawn fresh controversy in India by including an email by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein that refers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2017 visit to Israel, describing it as having taken place “for the benefit of the US president.” The reference has stirred political debate and drawn official denial from the Indian government.
The tranche of files, released on January 30, 2026, comprises millions of pages of material connected to Epstein — a convicted sex offender and human trafficker who died in US custody in 2019. Among them is a July 2017 email written by Epstein to an individual identified as Y. Jabor, which mentions Modi’s meeting with then-US President Donald Trump and his subsequent visit to Israel. In the message, Epstein wrote: “The Indian Prime Minister Modi took advice, and danced and sang in Israel for the benefit of the US president.”
Modi did indeed visit Israel in July 2017, marking the first official visit by an Indian prime minister to the country. The trip followed Modi’s meeting with Trump in Washington and was widely viewed as a milestone in India–Israel ties, especially since the two nations established diplomatic relations in 1992.
However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly rejected the message’s suggestion and dismissed other allusions in the email. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the reference was “little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal, which deserve to be dismissed with the utmost contempt.” The ministry reiterated that the email does not reflect official diplomacy or policy.
Political Reaction and Calls for Accountability
The documents’ disclosure has triggered sharp reactions from leaders of India’s opposition. The Indian National Congress described the reference as “extremely shameful,” with party officials demanding greater clarity from Modi’s office about his interactions around that period. Congress leaders have questioned what advice the prime minister could have sought from Epstein and pointed to the timing of Modi’s meetings with Trump and subsequent Israel visit.
One Congress spokesperson posted on social media: “Narendra Modi’s name has surfaced in the Epstein files… The Indian public deserves answers about what advice was taken and what was meant by ‘for the benefit of the US President’.”
Pakistani politician Mushahid Hussain Syed also weighed in, implying that the reference raised questions about Modi’s judgment and diplomatic conduct.
US Documents and Wider Context
The Epstein Files Transparency Act required the release of all remaining records connected to Epstein, which now include over 3 million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images. Analysts note that references to prominent global figures appear throughout the files, but stresses remain that inclusion in the documents does not equate to verified wrongdoing.
The Indian government has limited its response to reaffirming the facts of Modi’s official visit and rejecting speculative interpretations of the email. There has been no immediate comment from the Prime Minister’s Office or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the matter.
