Hardeep Puri’s daughter files ₹10 crore defamation suit over ‘false’ Epstein link claims

Himayani Puri, daughter of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, has filed a ₹10 crore defamation suit before the Delhi High Court alleging that several online reports and social media posts falsely linked her to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In her petition, she described the claims circulating online as “false and malicious” and sought immediate removal of the content.

The plea seeks directions against multiple social media platforms, including Google, X, Meta and LinkedIn, to take down posts and content that allegedly spread defamatory allegations about her. Along with monetary damages of ₹10 crore, the petition also requests a permanent injunction to prevent further circulation of such material.

According to the defamation suit, the disputed claims began circulating online around February 22, 2026. The posts allegedly suggested that Himayani Puri had direct or indirect business, financial or personal associations with Epstein or his criminal activities. Some posts also claimed that Real Partners LLC, where she had previously worked, received funding or financial benefits linked to Epstein.

The petition further stated that certain social media content alleged that businessman Robert Millard acted in concert with Puri in connection with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The suit strongly denied these claims and described them as baseless allegations designed to damage her reputation through misleading formats such as edited videos, manipulated thumbnails and sensational captions.

In the plea, Puri also argued that she is being targeted in a coordinated and motivated manner with the intent to malign her reputation both in India and internationally. The matter is expected to come up for hearing before the Delhi High Court in the coming days.