Rahul targets Modi over Mallya's escape to London

Keeping up the heat on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday virtually accused him of having a role in industrialist Vijay Mallya's escape to London.

“Mallya’s Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the 'Detain' notice for him, to 'Inform',” Rahul tweeted days after demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for failing to inform the investigating agencies about his meetings with Mallya.

“The CBI reports directly to the PM. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the PM,” Rahul said in another tweet.

Taking a cue from Rahul, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken also launched a sharp attack on Modi.

“The CBI reports directly to the prime minister. If the CBI has admitted to its mistake, then how come the prime minister is not responsible,” Maken said.

The Delhi unit of the Youth Congress took out a protest march to Jaitley's residence demanding his resignation. Sporting masks of Jaitley, Modi and Mallya, the activists rode a vehicle in an attempt to recreate the scene of the liquor baron's escape.

The Congress has been gunning for Jaitley's resignation, accusing him of not sharing information about Mallya's impending escape with the investigating agencies.

“The finance minister is lying. If an absconder told Mr Jaitley he is going to London, why did the FM not disclose this to the investigating agencies,” Rahul had asked at a press conference at the AICC headquarters on Thursday.