Epstein Files: Bill Gates’ Former Adviser Derided Pune in 2012 Emails
The latest tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files, released on Friday by the United States Department of Justice, includes email exchanges between the disgraced financier and Boris Nikolic, a former adviser to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In the 2012 emails, Nikolic repeatedly expressed his dislike for India, singling out the city of Pune with derogatory remarks.
The newly released batch is the largest disclosure of Epstein-related material so far, comprising more than three million pages of documents and thousands of images.
Emails from India trip
Among the files is correspondence exchanged while Nikolic was travelling in India in 2012. Nikolic, whom The New York Times once described as part of Bill Gates’ inner circle, referred to Pune as “filthy” and said he had refused to leave his hotel for two days during his visit.
In an email dated June 1, 2012, Nikolic told Epstein:
“Not my favorite place. You would HATE it. In the middle of nowhere — Pune India.”
In the same message, he apologised for his silence, saying he had been travelling for nearly 20 hours and that his visits to India and China had been “very busy.”
‘So filthy here’
In a follow-up email sent a few hours later, Nikolic reiterated his remarks about Pune.
“Can’t wait to catch up. So filthy here!! Refused to leave my hotel for last 2 days,” he wrote, adding a winking emoji.
Epstein responded briefly, replying with a single word: “strong.”
Nikolic later expressed frustration over a delayed flight from Pune, saying he was stranded in New Delhi and would miss a planned meeting with Epstein. He again criticised India in blunt terms.
“I am so upset. These idiots delayed flight from Pune and I am now stranded in New Delhi. Will not be able to come and meet you. I HATE this place. Even thinking that I must now spend here additional night makes me sick,” he wrote.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
