A major controversy erupted in Himachal rugby circles on Tuesday after Diviya Kumari Jubbal, a member of the erstwhile Jubbal Royal Family and one of the pioneers of the sport in the state, accused Bollywood Actor and Rugby India President Rahul Bose of obtaining a “fake” Himachal Pradesh domicile certificate to manipulate the upcoming National Federation Elections.

Speaking to the media outside the Himachal Pradesh High Court, where she has filed a petition challenging the recognition of a newly formed Himachal Pradesh Rugby Association, Diviya alleged that Bose, originally from Mumbai, secured a domicile certificate on September 24, 2025, falsely claiming 16 years of continuous residence in Kasauli. “His Aadhaar card, passport, and every official document show Mumbai as his permanent address. How did he suddenly become a bona fide Himachali overnight?” she asked.

Diviya claimed she and her team had spent two years building rugby infrastructure across Shimla, Kullu, Sirmaur, and Solan districts—forming clubs, training players, sending teams to nationals, and bearing all expenses—on the understanding that she would head the official state body once the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) granted affiliation. Instead, she alleges, a parallel “Himachal Pradesh Rugby Association” was hurriedly created on October 18, 2025, without elections or district representation, and granted permanent affiliation within eight days (October 26) solely to allow Bose to file his nomination for Rugby India presidential polls from the Himachal quota.

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“Rahul Bose knew he would not get a nomination from Maharashtra this time, so he allegedly engineered this fake domicile and a puppet state body to contest from Himachal,” Diviya told reporters. “Those of us who actually developed rugby here were deliberately kept out. It was a betrayal of trust and of every young player in the state.”

The petitioner has demanded that the High Court quash the affiliation granted to the new association and order a probe into the issuance of Bose’s domicile certificate. “Celebrities are not above the law. We have submitted documentary evidence to the court and have full faith that justice will be done for Himachali rugby,” she said.

Rahul Bose and Rugby India officials are yet to respond to the allegations. The case is listed for hearing next week.

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