Mumbai, Jun 18 (PTI): Badgered by political attacks on him, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan today said no to a second term in the post, in a surprise announcement putting at rest all speculation over his continuance.

"... on due reflection, and after consultation with the government, I want to share with you that I will be returning to academia when my term as Governor ends on September 4, 2016," Rajan said in a message to the RBI staff.

Speculation has been rife over whether Rajan, an acclaimed IMF economist known to have predicted the 2008 global financial crisis, would get a second term after BJP leader Subramanian Swamy launched a no-holds barred attack on him recently accusing him of destroying economy with his hawkish stance on interest rates.

Swamy had also questioned whether Rajan was "mentally, fully Indian" as he holds a US Green Card, among other allegations.

While Finance Minister Arun Jaitley called for restraint in public criticism in the wake of Swamy's attacks, BJP President Amit Shah said the newly-nominated MP's remarks were his personal opinion.

In his letter to colleagues, 53-year-old Rajan, appointed by the previous UPA Government in September 2013, said he "will, of course, always be available to serve my country when needed".