Overview
- Pawan Khera presented emails from the publicly released 'Epstein Files' and alleged Jeffrey Epstein’s network helped shape India’s post‑2014 Israel policy, invoking national‑security concerns and citing claimed intelligence links attributed to Epstein.
- He described purported January–March 2017 exchanges involving Hardeep Singh Puri and Anil Ambani, said Epstein introduced Ambani to former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, and referenced mentions of the White House and Steve Bannon.
- Khera linked the alleged backchannel to later outcomes, listing a roughly $2 billion missile system deal in 2017, naval LR‑SAM procurement, the Pegasus controversy, the 2018 Adani–Elbit drone joint venture, a Rs 880 crore Negev LMG purchase in 2020, and the 2022 Haifa Port acquisition.
- He cited a 2022 New York Times report describing missiles and Pegasus as elements of a broader India–Israel defense package and claimed India comprised about 34% of Israel’s defense exports from 2020 to 2024.
- There was no immediate response from Anil Ambani, Hardeep Singh Puri, the BJP or the government to the allegations, which were aired as Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducts a state visit to Israel.