The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday questioned former Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram in connection with an FIR alleging corruption in the supply of exclusive colour-shift security thread used in Indian banknotes, officials said.
Mayaram was summoned to the agency’s headquarters through a notice issued earlier this week and was examined by officials from the anti-corruption unit. Investigators recorded his statement and sought clarifications on various documents linked to the case.
The CBI’s FIR, registered in 2023, alleges that Mayaram, along with UK-based firm De La Rue International and unidentified officials from the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India, entered into a criminal conspiracy to extend undue favour to the company.
According to the agency, Mayaram—who served as Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs from April 2012 to August 2014 and as Finance Secretary from August to October 2014—granted a three-year extension to an expired contract with De La Rue. The extension was allegedly approved without mandatory security clearance from the Home Ministry or informing the then Finance Minister.
Investigators have alleged that this was the fourth such extension granted to the company. The CBI had earlier conducted searches at Mayaram’s residence in Jaipur following the registration of the FIR.
De La Rue was initially awarded the contract in 2004 during the tenure of P. Chidambaram. The contract was later halted in 2010 under Pranab Mukherjee based on intelligence inputs, before being reinstated in 2012 when Chidambaram returned as Finance Minister.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing, and no further action has been disclosed so far. |
