A senior officer of the country’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), who was under surveillance for alleged irregularities ‘‘in his official capacity,’’ is believed to be missing. Less than a fortnight ago, he reportedly left the country and since then, searches have been conducted at his office and New Delhi residence. The officer, Ravindra Singh, is the Joint Secretary in-charge of South East Asia in the R&AW, one of the 15 Joint Secretaries in the agency.Sources said the R&AW’s counter-intelligence wing had confronted Singh when he was leaving office on April 19. Several files were recovered from his car and investigations are on to ascertain whether he was authorised to take these out of the office. After this incident, Singh apparently remained absent from work for a few days reporting sick. He was being monitored by the counter-intelligence department of the R&AW but since May 14, the day after election results were announced, Singh has been ‘‘untraced.’’ While no missing report has been filed by the agency with the local police, sources said Singh’s family has been residing in the USA for the past few years. In fact, when The Indian Express visited his Defence Colony residence today, it was locked and a neighbour said: ‘‘He has gone to the US for his daughter’s engagement.’’ Secretary (R&AW) C D Sahay could not be reached but official sources said the investigations were at a ‘‘critical stage.’’ However, it has been learnt that the R&AW top brass have already apprised South Block of the case. A 1978 batch officer of the in-house R&AW cadre, Singh was posted in sensitive stations in Europe before coming to New Delhi. He was a key official in the department and reported directly to Special Secretary, in-charge of operations.
