Congress Leader Demands Clarification on PM Modi's Mention in Epstein Documents

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan asked the Central government to provide a clear explanation regarding references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, recently released by the US House Oversight Committee.

The documents reportedly indicate that Epstein, the convicted American financier and sex offender, attempted to arrange a meeting between Modi and Steve Bannon, a former chief strategist in the Trump White House, in mid-2019—shortly before Epstein's arrest.

According to the reviewed records, Bannon sought Epstein's assistance in setting up the meeting, with Epstein responding that he would try and later stating "Modi on board."

Chavan, who previously served as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office under the UPA government, claimed that there was a need for transparency.

He referenced his earlier post on X from December 1, where he had questioned the potential impact of the Epstein files on Indian politics.

Chavan pointed out the vast scale of the materials, including approximately 300 GB of data comprising millions of emails, photographs, and videos, with tens of thousands of photos released recently. "If a close aide of former US President Donald Trump was in Epstein's circle and sought a meeting with the Indian Prime Minister through him, what was the nature of their connection? These are valid questions based on publicly available records," he said.

He stated that Epstein was known for his associations with numerous influential figures in business and politics worldwide, and stressed that the government owes the public an explanation on Modi's alleged link in this matter.

Epstein, accused of operating extensive sex-trafficking and drug networks, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges. 

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