The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has escalated its attack on Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, pointing out that his claim of meeting Jeffrey Epstein as part of a delegation is “completely false” and contradicted by documentary evidence. Addressing the media, AAP’s National Media In-Charge Anurag Dhanda asserted that Hardeep Singh Puri met Epstein multiple times not with any official delegation, but alone and in his capacity as a senior BJP leader after the formation of the Modi Government. He noted that the pattern of communication shows Hardeep Singh Puri was consistently eager to meet Epstein and would promptly respond whenever summoned, indicating a level of familiarity that raises serious political and ethical questions.
The AAP National Media In-charge further questioned whether the ministerial appointment granted to Hardeep Singh Puri in 2017 was linked in any way to work carried out on Epstein’s advice, and demanded his immediate resignation. He said that if Hardeep Singh Puri does not step down, the Modi Government must remove him. The AAP leader also called on the Centre to clarify whether any similar meetings or communications took place between Epstein and the Prime Minister’s Office or Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the matter now warrants full public disclosure and accountability.
Addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters on Thursday, AAP National Media In-charge Anurag Dhanda said, “A minister of the Modi Government has, for the first time, openly admitted that he met Jeffrey Epstein. But he did not tell the full truth. He said he met him only as part of a delegation and never alone or in a personal capacity. The Aam Aadmi Party has consistently maintained that the Modi Government, its ministers, and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi are somewhere under pressure from the United States and under the pressure of some undisclosed secret that has not yet come into the public domain,” Anurag Dhanda said.
He stated, “Hardeep Singh Puri’s first meeting with Epstein took place in October 2014. By that time, he had joined the BJP and was meeting Epstein not as an officer but as a senior BJP leader. The documents show that Epstein asked him how useful and beneficial his advice had been. Hardeep Singh Puri replied that, from his perspective, it had been very useful and beneficial. After this, Hardeep Singh Puri told Epstein that he would like to come on the 8th or 10th to provide complete details.”
The AAP National Media Incharge pointed out that a senior BJP leader first takes advice from a person who had served a sentence for crimes involving sexual exploitation of minors and then says that the advice proved useful. “Hardeep Singh Puri was not asking for time as part of any delegation. He was asking for time for himself and saying that he would come and provide complete information, as if reporting to Epstein. A personal meeting was then fixed for October 10, 2014 at 12 noon,” he said.
Anurag Dhanda said, “This meeting took place after the Modi Government was formed. Hardeep Singh Puri must clarify whether he was speaking for his personal interests or lobbying on behalf of the Modi Government. It is now beyond doubt that he personally met Epstein several times and repeatedly discussed matters directly connected with politics or the Government. On February 4, 2015, another meeting took place, establishing that he was in direct contact with Epstein.”
Referring to emails from Epstein’s office, Anurag Dhanda said they invited Hardeep Singh Puri to Epstein’s residence in New York. “An email from Epstein’s office stated that Jeffrey was in New York and hoped that Hardeep Singh Puri could come to his house. Hardeep Singh Puri replied that he had sent a message and could come around noon. He was seeking time to meet at Epstein’s home, not in an office and not as part of any delegation. In January 2016, he met him again. In that exchange too, Epstein’s office asked whether he had time to come and meet Jeffrey in New York,” he said.
He said the informal manner of communication reflected a close personal relationship. “The way he was being invited informally shows how deep their friendship was. Hardeep Singh Puri replied that he would come at 11 am the next morning. The next morning, confirmation was sent that they would meet at 11 am at Jeffrey’s home. On January 5, 2017, they met again, with the same residential address and time given,” he said.
Anurag Dhanda stated that all these documents have been released by the American judicial system and are completely authentic. “In May 2017, Hardeep Singh Puri confirmed that he would meet Epstein, and the meeting took place on May 19, 2017. Initially, 12 noon was fixed. Then Epstein said 12 was not suitable and asked for 11 am. Hardeep Singh Puri agreed. The next day it was changed again to 10:30 am, and he agreed again. Each time the time was changed, he immediately accepted. Was he working for Epstein? His conduct clearly shows that Epstein was dominating him,” he said.
He questioned what was discussed in these personal meetings. “The 12 noon slot was separately reserved in his name, meaning it was a personal meeting and he was meeting Epstein alone. What were they discussing? Which Indian businesses, which agreements, what matters were being discussed? He must clarify what he wanted from Epstein. When he was questioned earlier, he casually said that if anything had happened, he would have said so. Now we have shown that things did happen, and he must answer,” he said.
Anurag Dhanda said further emails show eagerness from Hardeep Singh Puri’s side to meet Epstein. “Epstein’s office asked whether he would be available on Friday, January 9 at 5:30 pm to meet at Jeffrey’s residence. An immediate reply came from Hardeep Singh Puri saying that he would reach there. There was no negotiation on timing. Whatever time was given, he accepted. In March 2015 and December 2015, Epstein asked whether there was time for coffee the next day. Hardeep Singh Puri replied that he was in India and would arrive on April 10, after which they could meet. After reaching New York, he emailed asking to be informed when Epstein was in the city and available for coffee. The response was that it would be in the last week. The communication between them was highly informal,” he said.
Displaying documents, Anurag Dhanda said, “In the same schedule, it is written that at 9:40 pm he and the girls were to arrive, and at 11 am there was a meeting with Hardeep Singh Puri. This clearly shows what kind of character Epstein had, and yet the meetings continued,” he said.
He said it cannot be claimed that Hardeep Singh Puri was unaware of Epstein’s background. “In one email, he wrote asking to be informed when Epstein returned from his island. He knew what was happening on that island. Having served at the international level, he would also have known the offences for which Epstein had been convicted. Despite that, closeness was maintained,” he said.
Anurag Dhanda stated that this entire series of meetings took place just before Hardeep Singh Puri was made a minister in 2017. “In 2017, he was made a minister, and right up until that point, he was continuously meeting Epstein. He said the advice had been fruitful. Was he rewarded with a ministerial post because of these activities? After becoming a minister, how was this lobby used?” he asked.
He said the that AAP demands that Hardeep Singh Puri be immediately removed from his post and that the entire matter be investigated. “Indian agencies should examine these documents and meetings to determine which businesses were being discussed. Until the investigation is complete, he should step down as Union Minister. It is deeply shameful that the name of our ministers and the Prime Minister is being associated with a person convicted of crimes involving thousands of minor girls,” he said.
Raising further questions, Anurag Dhanda said many documents have not yet been made public by the United States. “Have there been similar meetings or conversations between Epstein and the Prime Minister’s Office or Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in exchange for which India is accepting unilateral demands from the United States? The manner in which the ceasefire with Pakistan and trade deals were carried out cannot be accepted by any sovereign nation. This is like behaving as a subordinate, and the country will not accept it,” he said.
Concluding, Anurag Dhanda said the matter now clearly requires investigation. “A minister of the Modi Government admitted that he met Epstein but attempted to claim it was only as part of a delegation. These documents completely expose that claim and show that personal meetings took place, advice was sought, and reports were given. In such circumstances, the Modi Government’s claim that it is entirely clean in the Epstein file matter cannot be trusted,” Anurag Dhanda said.