How a False Rugby Record Earned ₹33,333 and a State Job in Bihar

Investigators with the Bihar State Sports Authority have brought to light a deception that allowed an individual to profit from a fabricated rugby performance. The 2019 Senior Women’s National Rugby Sevens Championship, held over three days in July at Patna’s sports complex, listed Vanda Kumari as the player wearing jersey number 12. However, surveillance footage provided by Rugby India confirms that another athlete appeared on the field under that number for the entirety of the matches.

Following the team’s gold‑medal triumph, Kumari was awarded a cash prize of ₹33,333 under the 2021 Sports Honour Scheme. She subsequently joined the Building Construction Department, where she is suspected of using the unearned sports accolade to obtain a quota‑based vacancy.

The controversy deepened when Kumari filed an application under the 2024 “Medal Layo, Naukri Payo” programme, claiming medals from a December 2024 dragon‑boat competition and past appearances at a national event in Motihari (April 2023) and an international contest in Thailand (August 2023). Departmental records contradict these claims, showing no official clearance for the events and classifying the Thailand trip as personal travel.

BSSA’s report recommends that the state recover the award money, nullify any benefits derived from the false claim, and pursue action under service regulations. A complaint has been sent to the Patna SSP, and a police case has been filed to investigate possible criminal misconduct.