The disappearance of Dewanchand Malik, an official of the Research and Analysis Wing described by his wife as a Bangladeshi national, has thrown the external intelligence gathering agency in a quandary over appointments made by it in 2000-01.

Malik was appointed during this period in RAW's Aviation Research Centre in Kolkata as a Class-I officer. He went
missing after his wife filed an affidavit in a court in Kolkata in 2005 that alleged he is a Bangladeshi national, sources in the intelligence agency said.

He has not returned for duty and raids conducted to trace him have yielded no results, they said.

Malik's appointment has raised questions over recruitments made by RAW during 2000-01 as authorities suspect
they were done in an arbitrary manner, sources said.

The director of ARC filed a complaint with Delhi Police about the matter and a case was registered. A 'look-out notice' for Malik has been circulated to airports, railway stations and ports.

A request to Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice could be made only after a court declared Malik a proclaimed
offender, the sources said.

Malik was in the ARC for three years. His verification was done by local police and concerned officials have also
been questioned by RAW personnel.

During this process, the local police showed a ration card and statements by Malik's neighbours in 24 Parganas.