A fresh release of documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has sparked political controversy in India following the emergence of an email in which Epstein claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought his advice ahead of a 2017 visit to Israel.
The documents are part of a large tranche of Epstein-related records made public by the US Department of Justice under legislation passed in November 2025 requiring the disclosure of remaining materials connected to the financier. The release includes emails, internal memos, text messages, and investigative summaries compiled over several decades.
In one email attributed to Epstein, he asserted that Indian Prime Minister Narender Modi had followed his guidance to travel to Israel as a means of strengthening ties with the United States. The email contains boastful language suggesting the visit served US political interests.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the claim outright. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that apart from the well-documented official visit in July 2017, the contents of the email amounted to “baseless and contemptible speculation” by a convicted criminal and should be rejected entirely.
Modi’s 2017 Israel visit was historically significant, marking the first time an Indian prime minister travelled to the country. The trip coincided with the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Israel and included meetings with then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The email referencing Modi appears among millions of pages detailing Epstein’s interactions with political leaders, business figures, royalty, and other high-profile individuals worldwide. Legal experts have cautioned that mentions of names in the documents do not constitute evidence of wrongdoing, noting that many entries reflect unverified claims or Epstein’s own assertions.
In India, the opposition Congress party has seized on the disclosure. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the prime minister’s name appears multiple times in the files and questioned the government’s response. The party described the episode as damaging to India’s national dignity and international standing, demanding clarification from Prime Minister Modi.
Rothschild
One document dated October 5, 2015, shows that Jeffrey Epstein, through his company Southern Trust Company Inc., signed a $25 million agreement with the Rothschild Group to provide risk analysis and algorithm-related services, according to records that have resurfaced publicly.
The document identifies the late convicted sex offender as president of Southern Trust Company Inc., a Virgin Islands-registered firm, and outlines a “Letter of Agreement” between the company and Edmond de Rothschild Holding S.A., represented by Ariane de Rothschild.
Southern Trust Company was to collaborate with the Rothschild Group on “risk analysis” and the “application and use of certain algorithms”, referred to collectively as “Specified Matters”.
The agreement states that, in consideration for the work, the Rothschild Group would pay Southern Trust Company $25 million.
Somaliland
The documents also show Epstein and individuals in his network discussing Somaliland, the self-declared entity that has functioned as a de facto autonomous entity since 1991.
Emails from 2012 to 2018 reference possible investment opportunities in water exports, financial services linked to diaspora remittances, and proposals for a film production hub known as “Somaliwood Studios”.
In a 2012 email from an individual who described himself as owning a “water company”, the sender wrote to Epstein: “My water company could start really soon and fast, as there are huge water reserves, untapped (and clean), near the port city of Berbera, with direct access to the Saudi market. Easy to ship. Minimal transport. Again, Somaliland. Water sources already mapped, etc.”
One 2018 email shows Epstein receiving a document on Somaliland’s international recognition from the chief executive of port operator DP World.
Somaliland’s status has gained renewed attention after Israel announced in late 2025 that it formally recognised the territory, a move that drew criticism from the region and internationally.
Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The newly released materials have renewed scrutiny of his influence among global elites and raised questions about how long authorities were aware of allegations against him.
In 2008 and 2009, Epstein served jail time in Florida after pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18.
At the time, investigators had gathered evidence that Epstein had sexually abused underage girls at his home in Palm Beach, but the US attorney’s office agreed not to prosecute him in exchange for his guilty plea to lesser state charges.
