India’s oil minister has sparked a fresh controversy with his recent comments about his interactions with financier Jeffrey Epstein. Hardeep Singh Puri, a career diplomat and politician now serving as a cabinet member under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claims he had no involvement in any wrongdoing or criminal activities while meeting with Epstein during his time at the International Peace Institute in New York.
Puri, who was previously India’s UN ambassador from 2009 to 2013, met with Epstein “three or four times” over a period until 2020. He now maintains that these meetings were purely professional and focused on fostering ties between the United States think tank where he served as a member of its board until early 2020.
Puri’s defense comes in response to questions raised by India’s opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, who noted Puri’s name mentioned in Epstein’s emails during parliamentary inquiries. While Puri insisted that his engagements with Epstein were completely non-political and professional, the revelations have reignited public scrutiny over past dealings of senior government officials.
The controversy gained additional intensity when it was revealed that former Norwegian cabinet minister Terje Roed-Larsen had resigned from his position at the International Peace Institute after apologizing for his connection to Epstein. Puri’s remarks also surfaced alongside documents released by the US Department of Justice, showing emails between him and Epstein referencing LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman.
These recent revelations have once again placed spotlight on past actions of some political figures in India. They underscore ongoing concerns about transparency and potential conflicts of interest within government circles, particularly regarding high-profile international engagements involving individuals with questionable reputations.