The Congress charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday of pursuing a strategy of "fear, defamation, and intimidation" (FDI) after the CBI booked former finance secretary Arvind Mayaram in a corruption case only days after he walked with Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, news agency PTI reported.
Taking to Twitter, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh stated: "A former RBI governor walks in Bharat Jodo Yatra, BJP attacks him. A retired Army general does - he's maligned. Now a former finance secretary who joined is booked by the CBI."
"Modi's FDI policy - Fear, Defamation and Intimidation - is at work here. This is the mindset of a coward. But BJY will roll on," he added.
According to officials, the CBI conducted searches at Mayaram's residences on Thursday after filing a FIR against him and a UK-based business for suspected corruption in the provision of special colour shift security thread for Indian bank notes.
In its FIR, the CBI said that Mayaram, the UK-based business De La Rue International Ltd, and unidentified finance ministry and RBI officials plotted a criminal conspiracy to offer undue favour to the firm.
According to the officials, Mayaram, as finance secretary, granted a "illegal" three-year extension to a "expired contract" with the company for supplying exclusive colour shift security thread without obtaining any required security clearance from the home ministry or informing the then-finance minister.
According to the FIR, Mayaram allowed the fourth extension. The FIR was filed by the CBI under IPC sections dealing with criminal conspiracy and cheating, as well as provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. It was followed by searches at the former IAS officer's Jaipur and Delhi homes, only days after he joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra organised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
(With Inputs From PTI)