An email in the U.S. Justice Department files connected to Jeffrey Epstein has drawn scrutiny after it referenced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The email appears in a tranche of documents released this week. In it, Epstein comments on Modi’s 2017 state visit to Israel, asserting that the prime minister “took his advice and danced and sang in Israel for the benefit of the US president.”
The publication of the message prompted a rapid rejection from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which said the only verifiable detail in the email is Modi’s publicly documented trip to Israel. The ministry said the rest of the assertions have no factual basis.
Modi’s connection to Epstein, a Zionist Jew with strong ties to Israel, flowed through Anil Ambani, chairman, and managing director of Reliance Group. Ambani’s company has expanded to Israel and has billions in business in the controversial country.
Ambani and Epstein exchanged numerous text messages, according to records released by the American government.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the comments “trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal” and said they merit “the utmost contempt.” He said there is no indication of any contact, meeting, or advisory relationship between Modi and Epstein.
Opposition parties have asked the government whether further review of the documents is necessary, though officials maintain the email’s claims lack credibility.