The RTI application was filed by vice-president of Jalandhar District Congress Committee Sanjay Sehgal, who divulged the information to the press today. The Congress leader had sought information about land given on lease by JIT in the past 20 years.

As per the information, about 42 kanal, 14 marla and 37 square feet (over five acres) land was given on lease by JIT to Rajeshwari Kala Sangeet Academy under the 112.8-acre scheme of New Jawahar Nagar, a posh colony in Jalandhar city, at a rate of Re 1 per annum in 1963. The reputed Apeejay School and Apeejay College are located on the same land for the past many decades. The land is located on GT Road on Mahavir Marg, which is a main road of the city.

Similarly, 82 kanal, 17 marlas (over 10 acres) land was given to another reputed school, MGN, at the rate of Rs 600 per annum. This school is also located on the old GT Road at Kapurthala Chowk, another posh area. This land was given under the 79-acre scheme in Adarsh Nagar area.

Sehgal said it was mentioned in the lease that the land cannot be sub-leased further. “But MGN School has given this land on sub-lease to a bank and an ATM and is earning lakhs of rupees as rent,” he alleged.