CHANDIGARH: Crucial financial transaction records for the years 2008 and 2012 of Robert Vadra’s companies were destroyed by “water flooding the basement of the branch”, the Union Bank of India has told a Haryana police special investigation team (SIT).The SIT is investigating an FIR registered against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Vadra and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in an alleged corruption-riddled real estate deal that became an issue during the 2014 parliamentary elections.

BJP used it as a symbol of corruption to target Congress.Documents accessed by TOI indicate that the SIT had written to UBI requesting information regarding the fund inflow in the accounts of Skylight Hospitality and Skylight Realty — companies in which Vadra held directorial positions.

The bank responded on May 26 this year, stating that the records for 2008 and 2012 had been destroyed due to flooding in the basement of its branch.The SIT then sent notices to UBI to determine if records of other firms have also been destroyed.

A notice was also sent to the bank’s New Friends Colony branch in New Delhi on June 20 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the destruction of relevant records belonging to Skylight Hospitality and Skylight Realty.The response from the bank is awaited.

The investigation into this case began on September 1, 2018, when the BJP-led government in Haryana registered an FIR naming Hooda, Vadra, real estate giant DLF, Onkareshwar Properties, and Skylight Hospitality as the accused parties in a land deal.The SIT has been investigating the allegations surrounding the deal.

The recent addition of IAS officer Mukul Kumar, and former chief town planner and Rera Panchkula member Dilbag Singh, and a legal adviser to assist the SIT showcases the seriousness with which the case is being pursued by the government of CM Manohar Lal Khattar.One of the key allegations in the case is that Vadra’s Skylight Hospitality purchased 3.5 acres at Shikohpur in Gurgaon from Onkareshwar Properties in February 2008 for Rs 7.5 crore.

Subsequently, after obtaining a commercial licence, the company allegedly sold the same property to DLF for Rs 58 crore.

It is further alleged that, in exchange for the land deal, the Hooda government allotted 350 acres at Wazirabad in Gurgaon to DLF.However, the tehsildar of Manesar reported that Skylight Hospitality had indeed sold the 3.5 acres to DLF Universal Limited on September 18, 2012, and that no regulations or rules were violated during the transaction.