Raut posts photo of Hardeep Puri with Epstein, Congress demands minister's resignation

The Jeffrey Epstein case has once again come up before the Centre. Thackeray-faction MP Sanjay Raut has posted a photograph of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with Epstein. Raut says the two are seen holding a meeting in the photo. He claimed it is now clear that Puri had ties with Epstein.

Speaking to the media, Raut said Puri had earlier held a press conference and declared that he had never met Epstein. Puri had been saying he had no connection with Epstein. But on the occasion of Dussehra, private photographs of Puri and Epstein came out, Raut said.

In a post on X, Raut asked: "Modiji, was your minister Hardeep Puri meeting Jeffrey Epstein alone, and whose message did he carry to the meeting?" He also wrote that this was only the beginning and asked people to watch what happens next. Addressing @RSSorg, he said there would be a regime change. The post is dated October 21, 2026.

Raut claimed the Epstein file would play a big part in the regime change. He said some wickets would fall, and the Epstein case would have a major share in that. Saying the United States itself had shown Puri to be lying, Raut said the US holds secret photographs from the Epstein case and knows when to release them.

Raut pointed out that an Epstein file was opened while the US Secretary of State was in Mumbai. He said the official did not go to Delhi and did not meet Modi. Many leaders used to go to Ahmedabad, but it is a good thing that these VIPs are now coming to Mumbai, he said.

Raut made clear that a change of power would not come about because of the Epstein file alone. He said there are many occasions, many developments will take place, many files will be opened, and public anger will be seen growing sharper. He also attacked the government, saying Modi and Amit Shah are sitting helpless at this moment, flailing about, but cannot run the state.

Following the alleged photograph, the Congress has demanded Puri's resignation. Anurag Dhanda, national media in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party, has also criticised the BJP. Dhanda alleged that Puri did not meet Epstein as part of a delegation but met him alone, as a senior BJP leader.

Puri, on the other hand, has said he did nothing wrong. He said the discussion with Epstein concerned business investment. Puri said his main contact at the time was LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. He also said he was not aware of Epstein's other activities at the time.