India, Feb. 27 -- A resurfaced image linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has once again stirred controversy in the United States, placing senior officials under renewed scrutiny. The photo, which appears to show a prominent US cabinet member walking behind Epstein on his private island, surfaced online after independent tech workers analysed downloaded Epstein-related files. The development comes at a sensitive moment, as the official at the centre of the controversy is also on an unscheduled visit to India, holding high-level trade talks.

The image does not appear on the official website of the US Department of Justice, prompting questions about its absence and triggering a broader debate around transparency, redactions, an...