India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday strongly rejected references linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2017 visit to Israel with alleged emails connected to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, calling the claims “trashy ruminations” and completely baseless.
The controversy erupted after reports circulating online allegedly mentioned PM Modi’s historic Israel visit in connection with material linked to Epstein. Responding sharply to the claims, MEA officials dismissed the references as irresponsible speculation aimed at creating unnecessary controversy.
In an official reaction, the ministry stated that such insinuations had no factual basis and were an attempt to sensationalise unrelated events. The MEA emphasized that Prime Minister Modi’s Israel visit in 2017 was a landmark diplomatic engagement focused on strengthening bilateral ties between India and Israel across sectors including defence, agriculture, innovation, and technology.
Officials further noted that India does not respond to unfounded gossip or speculative narratives lacking credible evidence. The ministry described the references as misleading and intended to distract from substantive diplomatic achievements.
Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017, marking a significant milestone in India-Israel relations. The visit resulted in multiple agreements and enhanced cooperation between the two countries. Analysts noted that the diplomatic outreach had been widely recognised internationally for boosting strategic ties.
The resurfacing of references connected to Jeffrey Epstein — who faced multiple allegations related to sex trafficking and abuse before his death in 2019 — has often triggered political controversies globally. However, Indian authorities made it clear that attempts to draw connections with official diplomatic visits were entirely inappropriate and without merit.
Political leaders from the ruling alliance also defended the Prime Minister, accusing critics and sections of social media of spreading misinformation for political motives. Supporters argued that India’s foreign policy achievements should not be distorted through speculative commentary.
The MEA’s strong response signals the government’s intent to firmly counter narratives it considers defamatory or misleading, especially those involving the Prime Minister’s international engagements and India’s diplomatic image.
