“Who is blackmailing the US?” asks Rahul Gandhi about the timing of the Epstein-Puri photo release

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. File | Photo credit: ANI

The release of a photo of Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has raised fresh questions from the opposition, with the timing coinciding with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Mumbai.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday (Oct 21, 2026) questioned the timing of the release and asked whom the United States was trying to “blackmail”.

“Rubio is going to Mumbai. The US Department of Justice has released a picture of Epstein and Puri,” Mr Gandhi said in a post on X. “Dear BJP and RSS workers, which anti-national traitor do you think he is blackmailing?” he added.

Mamata Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also targeted Mr Puri, referring to the minister’s earlier statement that he had met Epstein three or four times as part of official delegations.

“Epstein Paaji told us he only met Epstein 3-4 times as part of the delegation. Guess the other delegates were hiding under the table in these 2 photos Paaji,” Ms Moitra said in a post on X, sharing photos of Mr Puri with Epstein.

“Shame on yourselves and stop participating in government meetings, at least for now,” she added in another post.

Congress leader Pawan Khera also disputed Mr Puri’s account of his interactions with Epstein. Citing documents available on the DoJ website, Mr Khera claimed that they exchanged 62 emails between 2014 and 2017.

“There have been 14 meetings and extensive interactions – that we know of so far – and many of them were one-on-one meetings. The recent photos only reinforce our claims, while questions remain,” Mr Khera said in a post on X.

Published – 21 Oct 2026 22:11 IST