Epstein Files Spark Debate in Indian Parliament
(New Delhi 12th March – Navneet Bansal, News Room 7) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of the Epstein files in Parliament, questioning why Indian businessman Anil Ambani has not faced legal scrutiny despite reports that his name appears in documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Gandhi called for clarity from the government and urged authorities to examine whether any Indian individuals named in the documents were investigated.
The government rejected the allegations, with Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri stating that his limited meetings with Epstein in the past were purely professional and unrelated to any illegal activity. The issue has triggered a political debate, with the opposition demanding transparency while the government accuses Gandhi of making unsubstantiated claims.
Epstein Files: What They Are
The Epstein Files are a set of court records, emails, flight logs and testimonies related to investigations into late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged sex-trafficking network.
The documents surfaced through lawsuits and legal proceedings in the United States and contain references to several politicians, businessmen and celebrities who had contact with Epstein. However, experts stress that being named in the files does not necessarily imply wrongdoing.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex-trafficking charges but died in a New York jail later that year while awaiting trial, leaving many questions around the case and its connections.
