As a massive fire engulfed several floors of the 7-storey state government secretariat building, housing among others the Urban Development department, in the eye of the Adarsh controversy, there were strong suspicions that crucial files might have been lost forever.
However, both CBI, which was handed over the probe by the Ministry of Defence and the two-member inquiry commission set up by the state government to look into allegations of irregularities, said they had copies of all relevant documents relating to the 31-storey plush building in south Mumbai.
"We had taken all documents required as part of investigations from the state government last year itself soon after registration of the FIR. Even hard drives from the computers in various departments like the Urban Development department were seized by us last year," a senior CBI officer said.
An official from the judicial panel said even if some documents were destroyed in the 'Mantralaya' blaze, it would not impact the probe as they have copies.