The Epstein Files, documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, contain around fifteen direct references related to Kerala. In an email sent to Epstein by Peter Mandelson, a former British minister and ambassador who resigned from the Labour Party following controversies, he states: “Had a very good Kerala massage.” It is not clear whether this refers to a massage received in Kerala itself, or whether it was a service provided through some racket linked to Epstein. Notably, the word Kerala appears in quotation marks in the email.
Bank statements had earlier emerged showing that during 2003–04, when Peter Mandelson was a Labour Party MP, he received $75,000 from Epstein. The above-mentioned message was sent by Mandelson in 2009. There is no available information on whether he visited Kerala that year, or who hosted him during such a visit, if it occurred. Documents allege that, while serving as the British Business Secretary in 2009, Mandelson tried to use his position to help with some of Epstein’s requests.
Another celebrity implicated in the Epstein Files controversy is Sultan bin Sulayem, head of the renowned Dubai-based logistics group DP World. Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice have already revealed to the public various questionable dealings carried out by bin Sulayem in connection with Epstein. In one of the emails he sent to Epstein, he also mentions Kerala and Malabaris.
“They (Dubai) have the tallest residential towers in the world, the tallest restaurant in the world, the largest number of Malbaris in the world, the highest crane operator in the world…. Some Malbaris go home to Kerala, get married, and then come to a Dubai Mall for their honeymoon….”
Epstein also received numerous pieces of Kerala-related information from various sources in the form of daily news digests. These included details about alleged Islamic extremist activities linked to Kerala. The Epstein Files also contain references from an international media outlet about Hussein Madavoor, a well-known Islamic intellectual from Kerala.
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