Terming his suspension from the BJP as "ultravires, Ram Jethmalani today mounted a fresh attack on the party leadership accusing Nitin Gadkari of treading on the path of suicide and dragging the party with him.

In a strongly worded letter to Gadkari, Jethmalani also alluded to the alleged role played by Arun Jaitley in the CBI director appointment row.

"Your order of suspension is ultravires and usurpation of the power of the Parliamentary Board. Besides no situation had arisen in which you should have proceeded without speaking to me and complying with ordinary decencies of a quasi-judicial office which you hold," the suspended party MP said.

Making a scathing comment, Jethmalani said in his letter, "I am convinced that you are firmly set on the path of suicide and you are determined to drag the whole party with you. 'Vinash kal Vipreet Buddhi (when one is set to be doomed he loses his mind)' is an old maxim." He also said he suspects Gadkari is prejudiced against him and hence took this action of suspending him.