Sports Lawyer Alleges Lease Violations and Financial Mismanagement by CLTA

Calls for Lease Cancellation and Forensic Audit of CLTA Funds

Chandigarh, February 17, 2025 – Sports lawyer and senior tennis player Prasang Raheja has accused the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) of multiple violations of its lease agreement with the Chandigarh Sports Department. He has called for the immediate cancellation of the lease deed and a forensic audit to investigate financial irregularities and potential misuse of public property.

Key Allegations Against CLTA

1. Unauthorized Subletting

Raheja alleged that CLTA has illegally sublet parts of its premises to a café and a sports shop, violating Clause 7 of the lease agreement. As a result, the Chandigarh Administration has issued a show-cause notice to CLTA after this violation was uncovered through an RTI request.

2. Lease Renewal Without Mandatory Approvals

According to Raheja, CLTA’s lease was renewed in 2021 without obtaining approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as required by law.

“This violation further undermines the integrity of the lease agreement and contradicts notifications issued by the Ministry of Finance, which stipulate the necessary procedures for lease renewal. Notification no 8(18)2010-E-11-(A) dated 28th March 2011 and the finance policy of 2017 was also not taken into consideration by the Chandigarh administration while renewing the lease deed in the year 2021. However, the terms of this lease agreement raise questions about favoritism and corruption, as special concessions have been given to the CLTA that are not afforded to other sports associations in Chandigarh,” said Raheja.

3. Lease Agreement Altered to Favor CLTA

Raheja also highlighted irregularities in the 2017 lease deed, stating that it was altered to shift maintenance responsibilities from CLTA to the Chandigarh Sports Department.

“The lease agreement has been under scrutiny for not aligning with standard lease practices and for favouring a specific party, resulting in a loss to the public exchequer. Clause number 4 of the 2017 lease deed has been altered, transferring the responsibility for maintenance from the CLTA to Chandigarh sports department. This change, made without concrete reasoning, disproportionately benefits CLTA by exempting them from significant repair obligations, which is not in line with commercial lease practices. In spite of audit objections, strangely the critical clause of maintenance was altered in the renewed lease deed of 2021,” Raheja noted.

4. Unauthorized Operation of CHART and Fund Misuse

Raheja further pointed out that CLTA has been operating the Chandigarh Academy for Rural Tennis (CHART) on publicly leased land without authorization under the lease agreement. Despite this, CHART has received funding from private sponsors and various organizations, raising concerns over financial transparency.

“The Chandigarh Administration should initiate a forensic audit to investigate the financial discrepancies and the potential loss caused to the state exchequer, conduct a thorough investigation into the unauthorized operation of CHART and the funds associated with it,” he stated.

Call for Action

Citing these violations, Raheja has urged the Chandigarh Administration to take the following immediate steps:

✔ Cancel CLTA’s lease to prevent further misuse of public assets.
✔ Initiate a forensic audit to investigate financial discrepancies.
✔ Review all lease agreements to ensure fair and transparent practices.

With these allegations coming to light, the spotlight is now on the Chandigarh Administration to take necessary action against CLTA and ensure accountability in the management of public sports facilities.