New Delhi, All the officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) on Thursday donated their one-day salary totalling to Rs 3.5 crore to the PM-CARES Fund to support the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The country's internal intelligence agency extended its hand following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call for countrymen to contribute to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) to help strengthen the fight against the dreaded virus, which has claimed 169 lives besides infecting over 5,000 people in the country.

The Director of Intelligence Bureau, Arvind Kumar, on Thursday handed over a cheque of Rs 3.5 crore to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Minister of State for Home, G. Kishan Reddy, and Union Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, were present on the occasion.

"On PM Narendra Modi's clarion call to fight the menace of Covid-19, staff of the Intelligence Bureau have donated their one-day salary (totalling Rs 3.5 crore) to PM-CARES Fund. Director IB handed over the cheque to Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier today (Thursday)," the Home Minister's office tweeted.