New Delhi, October 22, 2026: Newly circulated photographs showing Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri seated across a table from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have triggered a fresh political controversy, with opposition parties questioning the minister’s earlier account of their interactions.
The photographs, reportedly part of material released by the United States Department of Justice, have renewed scrutiny of Puri’s meetings and email exchanges with Epstein. The controversy escalated on October 21 after Congress and other opposition leaders demanded greater clarity about the purpose and context of the interactions.
The dispute centres on whether the newly circulated images are consistent with Puri’s earlier explanation that he met Epstein in a professional capacity through his association with the International Peace Institute (IPI) and its related initiative.
What do the new Epstein photographs show?
A photograph released as part of the US Justice Department’s Epstein-related material shows Puri and Epstein seated opposite each other at a table, with papers and other items visible between them. According to The Wire, at least 10 photographs from the same meeting appear in the relevant dataset, with slight variations in framing and angle.
The images began circulating widely on social media on October 20 and prompted questions from opposition politicians about whether other participants were present at the meeting.
However, a photograph showing two people seated across a table does not, by itself, establish the purpose of their conversation or demonstrate criminal wrongdoing. The context of the meeting and the documentary record remain central to assessing the controversy.
What has Hardeep Singh Puri said about his meetings with Epstein?
Puri has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein on three or four occasions in a professional capacity. In February 2026, the minister said the interactions took place during the period when he was associated with the International Peace Institute and its Independent Commission on Multilateralism initiative.
Puri explained that his former boss at the IPI, Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, knew Epstein and that his initial interaction with the financier occurred in the context of an IPI delegation.
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Following the circulation of the latest photographs, Puri’s office told The Wire that the minister could not recall which specific meeting the images depicted or whether other people had been present before or after the photograph was taken.
His office also said Puri had not claimed that he had never met Epstein alone. It maintained that the interactions were professional and involved discussions related to India’s economy and digital potential. The office reiterated that Puri had never visited Epstein’s island.
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Why are opposition parties questioning Puri?
The Congress, Trinamool Congress and other opposition leaders have questioned the minister over the nature of his meetings with Epstein and whether his earlier public explanation adequately described the interactions.
Congress leaders have demanded greater transparency, while Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioned the purpose of the meeting and whether it had any political significance. TMC MP Mahua Moitra also criticised Puri’s earlier explanation, while Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate challenged his account of the meetings.
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The opposition has argued that the photographs warrant further answers. These political allegations, however, should not be treated as proof of criminal involvement by Puri.
The central question raised by the latest controversy is whether the available photographs, correspondence and other records provide a complete account of the meetings and their purpose. <Cite refs={[“turn738010search0″,”turn738010search2″,”turn738010news14”]}/>
What do the Epstein files reveal about the correspondence?
Earlier reporting on documents released by the US Justice Department described email exchanges between Puri and Epstein spanning 2014 to 2017. According to The Wire, the correspondence included arrangements for meetings and exchanges related to business and investment opportunities in India.
The report also described an email introduction involving LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and correspondence concerning a visa request for Epstein’s assistant.
These reported exchanges have added to the scrutiny of the relationship. Their significance must be assessed in context, including the contents of the complete correspondence and the purpose of the professional contacts.
Epstein was a convicted sex offender who pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to offences involving the solicitation of prostitution from a minor. He was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019 and died in custody that year while awaiting trial.
The existence of contact with Epstein does not, on its own, establish that another person participated in or knew about his criminal activities.
What happens next?
The controversy is likely to remain a political issue as opposition parties seek further explanations and the minister’s office maintains that the meetings were professional.
Further developments could include additional responses from Puri, fresh scrutiny of the released correspondence and questions about the context of the photographs.
For now, the key distinction is between the documented fact of contact with Epstein and the separate allegations being raised about its nature. The photographs have renewed questions about Puri’s account, but they do not independently establish criminal wrongdoing.
Tags: Hardeep Singh Puri, Hardeep Singh Puri Epstein files, Hardeep Singh Puri new photos, Hardeep Singh Puri with Jeffery Epstein, Hardeep Singh Puri Depart of Justice,
