An angry Tampi told the officers, including Commissioners of Customs, in a meeting at Custom House, that he would not tolerate any slackness on their part and he would hold them accountable for their staff.

Tampi, one of the most sensitive officers himself, is learnt to have asked his colleagues how he should defend the name of the department when junior officers like appraisers were caught with such ease in a surprise check.

On Thursday night, the CBI got at least five officers with almost Rs 20,000 each. A lady, Jaylaxmi, also an appraiser, whose house was also searched by the CBI, had in her possession Rs 29 lakh.

Tampi has also declared that the Central Intelligence Unit (CIU) of Customs, aspecialised intelligence unit, will now be reporting to him directly, and will be given a "free hand".

Ironically, Tampi finds himself in this situation, when he has, with his own clean image, tried to bring dignity to the department, and taken several proactive steps to raise his officers' morale.

And though the CBI's action itself was a little unusual, going by the fact that surprise checks are not so routine - raids and traps, which presuppose specific intelligence about an officer, for instance, are - Thursday's action at the Air Cargo Complex may well have had its effect, at least for the time being.

Tampi had also called staff association leaders to the meeting today, sources revealed.