In the wake of the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent massive release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case—comprising millions of pages, thousands of images, and videos under the Epstein Files Transparency Act—social media has once again erupted with sensational claims. One particularly viral post, amplified by accounts with significant reach in India and beyond, alleges that a photograph from these files depicts Epstein alongside Hind Al-Owais, a former UAE government human rights official, in a compromising or intimate setting. The post explicitly calls for her arrest, framing the image as evidence of hypocrisy given her role in advocating for women’s rights and protections against human trafficking.
The Claim
The primary source of this viral misinformation is an X (formerly Twitter) account @Bharatramsena, a self-described “Hindu | Bihari Girl” with a bio emphasizing “nationalist thoughts.” Posted on February 13, 2026, the content garnered over 23,000 likes, thousands of reposts, and more than 1.5 million views within hours. It states: “A photo has been shared yesterday citing the Epstein Files which has once again created a massive stir across the internet. The image shows Jeffrey Epstein and a former UAE government human rights worker together.” It then condemns Al-Owais, highlighting the irony of someone in a human rights role allegedly associating with “the very mastermind of trafficking,” and demands her immediate arrest if proven guilty. The post includes two images: one appearing to show a man and woman dancing closely, and another portrait of a woman in professional attire wearing a hijab.
Similar claims have proliferated on X, with users in India, Pakistan, the Arab world, and elsewhere sharing the same or variant images, often adding inflammatory language about “trafficking her own sister” or broader conspiracies involving UAE elites. Some posts speculate on her sister’s age (claiming 13 at the time) or suggest professional repercussions, including dismissals.
Research by The Chenab Times
As an independent outlet committed to rigorous, evidence-based journalism, The Chenab Times conducted a multi-source investigation. This included:
- Direct analysis of the viral post and its media via X’s advanced search tools, tracing engagement and similar claims.
- Cross-referencing with official U.S. Department of Justice releases (publicly accessible datasets from the Epstein files).
- Review of reporting from credible outlets such as Middle East Eye, India Today, Times of India, The New York Times, and others covering the files’ contents.
- Examination of fact-checks and corrections circulating on X and in media, including references to AFP Fact Check and similar verifications.
- Searches for visual matches, including the dancing footage and related Epstein imagery.
- Contextual review of @Bharatramsena’s posting history, which consistently features Hindu nationalist perspectives, critiques of Islamic practices (e.g., halala, burqa), and framing of Muslims as a cultural/demographic threat—often without direct religious targeting in individual posts but through patterned rhetoric.
What The Chenab Times Found
The dancing image/footage in the viral post does not depict Hind Al-Owais with Jeffrey Epstein. It shows Karyna Shuliak, Epstein’s longtime girlfriend (a Belarusian dentist). Official DOJ releases and associated reporting confirm this:
- Shuliak appears extensively in the files, including never-before-seen photos and videos of her with Epstein, such as dancing playfully (e.g., on his private jet or in residences).
- She was the last person Epstein contacted before his 2019 death, named as a major beneficiary in his will (with significant assets bequeathed), and benefited from his influence (e.g., facilitated admission to Columbia University’s dental program).
- Reliable sources, including The New York Times, Daily Mail, and DOJ-linked documents, describe and verify these visuals as featuring Shuliak—not Al-Owais.
Hind Al-Owais does appear in the Epstein files, but exclusively in email correspondence (approximately 469 emails from 2011–2012). These involve:
- Social coordination and meeting arrangements.
- References to introducing her younger sister to Epstein, with one message stating, “she is even prettier than me!!!!!”
- Ambiguous phrasing about “getting one girl ready is difficult enough; two girls, you can certainly call a challenge.”
No photos, videos, or direct visual evidence link Al-Owais to Epstein in the released materials. Official sources emphasize that the documents do not accuse Al-Owais of criminal involvement—no charges have been filed, and the emails reflect social/professional proximity rather than proven complicity in Epstein’s crimes. Emirati influencers and commentators have defended her, arguing contextual misinterpretation and countering misinformation.
The viral photo has been misattributed in a pattern seen across Epstein file discussions, including doctored images (e.g., of UAE leaders) and miscaptioned stills (e.g., one falsely tied to Al-Owais was actually a 2015 U.S. Senate event featuring Joe Biden).
How We Arrived at This Conclusion
We cross-verified visuals against DOJ datasets and mainstream reporting; traced claim origins to @Bharatramsena and echoed posts; consulted fact-check references debunking similar misidentifications; and analyzed the account’s broader pattern of content, which aligns with right-wing nationalist narratives often amplifying stories with a Muslim angle (e.g., UAE/Emirati figures) for outrage without explicit religious framing in this instance.
Final Verdict: False
The claim that the viral dancing photo shows Hind Al-Owais with Jeffrey Epstein is false—it is a misidentification of Karyna Shuliak. While Al-Owais’s email ties to Epstein are documented and raise legitimate questions about elite networks and accountability (especially given her human rights advocacy), they remain textual only, with no evidence of criminality or visual proximity in the files. Spreading such misattributed visuals undermines genuine scrutiny of Epstein’s enablers and risks fueling unfounded conspiracies.
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Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an Indian journalist and online editor at The Chenab Times. Based in Thathri, Doda, he reports on regional affairs, civic governance, and human-interest stories across Jammu and Kashmir. Rihat also maintains a personal website, tahirrihat.com, where he shares professional updates and reflections on journalism in the Chenab Valley.
