There is enough indication that foreign intelligence agencies including USA, Pakistan and China have flooded India with raw cash to fish senior most strategic Government officials to get the secret on India’s national security.

Stunned by the defection of a senior officer of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Government has sought an explanation from the agency on how the surveillance system broke down, allowing one such operative to take a flight abroad.

RAW joint secretary Ravinder Singh's defection to the US has forced the agency to launch a massive hunt within the organization to identify other officers who could be passing operational and other highly classified information to foreign agencies. Singh has been missing since May 14.

Although Singh did not handle operations and was on the analysis desk for South-East Asia, he was found photocopying classified documents of his division and other sections as well.

The RAW has admitted this in a DO (demi-official) note to the PMO, a copy of which was marked to the Cabinet Secretary, on May 24. It says he was noticed by RAW's counter-intelligence wing for the "unusual photo-copying" of documents.

The letter stated Singh was "evincing more than usual interest in other sections not being dealt by him." Sources said he would throw parties for seniors and subordinates, some of whom he would often approach for information and documents.

"If he was not a valuable asset for the foreign agency he was working for, why was he spirited away when it was discovered that he was under surveillance. Why was he given sanctuary? Besides, he was privy to weekly Thursday meetings chaired by the RAW chief, where sensitive information was discussed," an insider said.

The letter talks of "some surveillance" to follow Singh's activities since he was suspected to be working for foreign agencies about six months back. But Government sources said it was "not enough". "The surprise check on all officers and other employees on April 19 alerted Singh and hastened his flight," an official said.

While RAW bosses have sought time to complete enquiries into the circumstances leading to the defection, efforts are on to trace his getaway route. Of particular interest to the sleuths is the South-East Asia sector.

The Government has told the RAW bosses to take immediate measures to plug security holes.
The RAW brass, which is split on whether to take immediate action against Singh or not, has been asked to explain why the Intelligence Bureau, which has counter-intelligence expertise, was not consulted.

Top officials in the Government are not buying the theory that Singh "did not know much" and therefore could not have passed out top-secret documents. After all he was the RAW joint secretary.