‘Met Epstein only as part of IPI Delegation’: Hardeep Singh Puri rejects Rahul Gandhi’s allegations over links in Epstein files

New Delhi: Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday rejected allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, stating that his interactions were limited to professional engagements during his association with the International Peace Institute (IPI).

Reacting to Gandhi’s charge, Puri said he had been invited to join the International Peace Institute and that his interactions were strictly in a professional capacity. “I was invited to join the International Peace Institute (IPI). My interactions were professional and related to the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM), where the chair was the former Australian Prime Minister, and I served as Secretary-General,” he said.

Puri added that his then superior at IPI, Terje Larsen, knew Epstein and that he met Epstein only as part of a delegation discussing United Nations-related issues. “My boss at IPI, Mr. Terje Larsen, knew Epstein, and I met Epstein only as part of a delegation discussing UN-related issues,” he said.




He further clarified that he had also met Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn, in a professional context. “I also met Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn’s founder, but only in the context of professional discussions on India’s internet and business opportunities. It had nothing to do with any wrongdoing,” Puri said.

Describing himself as a “far-sighted private citizen” at the time, Puri said he had provided insights about India’s economic and internet-based opportunities. “Any claims connecting me to Epstein’s criminal activities are baseless. The only substantive emails involved professional advice about India’s economy and internet-based opportunities,” he said.

Puri’s name had surfaced in documents and email exchanges that became public during court proceedings and document disclosures related to Epstein’s case in the United States. The references were part of broader disclosures that included communications involving several public figures, academics and business leaders. There has been no allegation by US authorities that Puri was involved in Epstein’s criminal conduct.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors and later died in a New York jail while awaiting trial.