The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2017 visit to Israel, which appeared in the recently released Jeffrey Epstein files, as "trashy ruminations of a convicted criminal". The MEA issued a statement on Saturday, January 31, 2026, refuting the claims made in the documents related to the late convicted sex offender.

The controversy arose after the US Department of Justice released a substantial batch of investigative material linked to Epstein on Friday. This release included over three million pages of records, along with thousands of videos and images. Among these documents was an email that referred to PM Modi's visit to Israel in July 2017.

According to reports, the email in question, written by Epstein to one Jabor Y, made claims about PM Modi taking advice and performing actions in Israel for the benefit of the US president, Donald Trump. The email stated, "The Indian Prime minisiter modi took =dvice. and danced and sang in israel for the benef=t of the US president. they had met a few weeks ag=. . IT WORKED. !".

The MEA has firmly denied these allegations, asserting that while PM Modi did undertake an official visit to Israel in July 2017, the remaining content of the email is inaccurate and baseless. "Beyond the fact of the Prime Minister's official visit to Israel in July 2017, the rest of the allusions in the email are little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal, which deserve to be dismissed with the utmost contempt," the MEA stated.

The Indian government's response came after Congress leader Pawan Khera shared the email on social media platform X, demanding clarification on the matter. Khera stated, "That India's PM could have a proximity to such a disgraced figure raises serious questions of judgment, transparency, and diplomatic propriety... This inexcusable association between Epstein and Narendra Modi is a matter of national dignity and international reputation that demands immediate accountability from the Prime Minister".

The MEA's strong rebuttal underscores the government's attempt to distance itself from the controversial claims and mitigate any potential damage to the Prime Minister's reputation. The documents released by the US Department of Justice have triggered widespread media coverage and public discussion, prompting various governments and individuals mentioned in the files to respond to the allegations.