An institution in terminal decline that’s at war with itself,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted, sharing reports that the CBI has booked its Special Director Rakesh Asthana in a bribery scandal, naming him as an accused in an FIR filed earlier this week.

Amid the battle in the top ranks of the CBI, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday said the agency was in terminal decline and “at war with itself”. The party said the CBI is facing a serious credibility crisis and claimed that the BJP-led government was responsible for bringing it to such a situation.

The BJP said people’s faith in the institution should continue.

“The PM’s blue-eyed boy, Gujarat cadre officer, of Godra SIT fame, infiltrated as No. 2 into the CBI, has now been caught taking bribes. Under this PM, the CBI is a weapon of political vendetta. An institution in terminal decline that’s at war with itself,” Rahul tweeted, sharing reports that the CBI has booked its Special Director Rakesh Asthana in a bribery scandal, naming him as an accused in an FIR filed earlier this week.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi pointed out that there is also a report against CBI director Alok Verma — a reference to his deputy Asthana’s complaint against him. “There are two reports, one is against the director and another against the special director. We would like people’s faith in the institution of the CBI to continue,” she told reporters.

The Centre will put forth its views, she said, adding that the party will speak on such a serious matter later.