Actor and former rugby player Rahul Bose has announced that he will not contest for the Rugby India presidency from Himachal Pradesh, following allegations surrounding the validity of his domicile certificate. In a public statement, Bose emphasised that ethics and integrity remain central to his work and that he welcomes judicial scrutiny into the matter.
Rahul Bose issues clarification after controversy
The controversy intensified over the past 24 hours after media reports suggested Bose may have improperly secured a Himachal Pradesh domicile certificate to strengthen his bid for the top post in Rugby India.
In his statement addressed to friends, colleagues and the rugby fraternity, Bose said:
“Ethics and integrity are the guiding principles of my life… I am not, and will not, be seeking the Rugby India Presidency as a candidate from Himachal Pradesh.”
He further added that the matter of the domicile certificate should be left to the courts, saying he “wholeheartedly welcomes” judicial review in an era where transparency allows truth to emerge clearly.
Allegations from Shimla’s royal family
The issue dates back to 2023, when Bose reportedly assured the royal family of Shimla that he would help establish and officially recognise a state-level rugby association. Two years later, local supporters allege that the promised recognition has not materialised.
Divya Kumari, from the royal family of the Jubbal princely state, claimed that after two years of building an association with hundreds of members across districts, their efforts were sidelined. She alleged that Bose misused their trust and attempted to create a new body from scratch, bypassing existing members.
Speaking to India Today, she alleged:
“He used us for his own benefit, misused our trust and illegally formed a body where rules are not followed… How did he get a domicile certificate when he is not a resident?”
Questions over multiple domicile certificates
Kumari and other complainants have questioned how Bose could possess domicile documents from more than one state. According to their allegations, Bose was born in Kolkata, currently has an Aadhaar card, passport and domicile certificate from Maharashtra — where he has worked in the film industry — yet also holds a domicile certificate from Himachal Pradesh.
The complainants argue that the Himachal domicile was essential because contesting for the Rugby India presidency requires state-based representation, including the ability to secure two votes from that state in the national selection process.
Local rugby groups have expressed disappointment at the developments, with concerns that their efforts for official state recognition are being overlooked.
Matter escalates to Himachal Pradesh High Court
Divya Kumari has formally approached the Himachal Pradesh High Court, seeking an investigation into the legitimacy of Bose’s domicile certificate and the administrative decisions taken regarding the rugby association. She has also alleged attempts to cover up the issue and insisted that the rugby community deserves clarity.
The next hearing in the High Court is scheduled for December 18, where the matter is expected to advance.
Calls for transparency in sports governance
The dispute has renewed discussions around transparency and governance in Indian sports bodies. Members of the rugby community in Himachal Pradesh said the creation of a new association appeared to overwrite years of grassroots work, intensifying their call for accountability from administrators.
Bose, meanwhile, maintains that he remains committed to supporting Indian rugby ethically and constructively, irrespective of the outcome of the court proceedings.