“We have seen reports of an email message from the so-called Epstein files that has a reference to the Prime Minister and his visit to Israel. Beyond the fact of the Prime Minister's official visit to Israel in July 2017, the rest of the allusions in the email are little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal, which deserve to be dismissed with the utmost contempt," Jaiswal said.

The MEA’s response came after the US Justice Department released an additional three million documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files, uploading the latest tranche to its online repository. The documents form part of tens of thousands of pages made public so far, including photographs, videos, court filings, FBI and DOJ records, news clippings, and emails.

The releases are mandated under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the DOJ to produce all records related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell by December 19.

Congress seeks PM Modi’s explanation

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain his "connection" with Jeffrey Epstein after his name surfaced in the latest tranche of documents released by the US Justice Department.

Sharing a screenshot of an email communication from Epstein to one Jabor Y in 2017, the Congress said that it was "extremely shameful" that PM Modi's name has surfaced in the Epstein Files.

"America’s serial rapist, child sex offender, and human trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein, wrote in an email on July 9, 2017: “The Indian Prime Minister Modi took advice and danced and sang in Israel for the benefit of the US president. They had met a few weeks ago. IT WORKED!” Epstein clearly states that ‘Modi took advice from me and went to Israel, where he danced and sang for the benefit of the US president. He also said that it worked.’," the Congress said.

The Congress also flagged that Prime Minister Modi was on a visit to Israel from July 4 to 6, 2017, adding that Epstein wrote the email in question just three days later. Just before the Israel visit, on June 25-26, 2017, Modi had met US President Donald Trump in America.

The Opposition party further added, "Connecting the dots of Jeffrey Epstein’s emails reveals that Modi went to America in June 2017 and took advice from Epstein there. One week later (July 4 to 6, 2017), Modi arrived in Israel and, as per the advice, danced and sang there-and it worked. Now it’s clear that Prime Minister Modi has a very deep and long-standing connection with Jeffrey Epstein, which is shameful for India."

Calling it a matter of national dignity and international reputation, the Congress demanded that Modi answer three questions: 1. What kind of advice was Narendra Modi taking from Jeffrey Epstein? 2. For whose benefit was Modi dancing and singing in Israel-for US President Trump? 3. Epstein wrote-”IT WORKED!”… so what does that mean?"