Virat Kohli Team Denies He Was Paid Crores For Vrindavan Visit

NEW DELHI- Former India captain Virat Kohli’s spokesperson on October 7 rejected an allegation that the cricketer was paid Rs 5 crore for visiting spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj’s ashram in Vrindavan, calling the claim “completely false, baseless and factually incorrect.”

The statement came after a claim attributed to Dinesh Sharma, popularly known as ‘Falahari Maharaj’, circulated on social media and triggered speculation over Kohli’s association with the spiritual leader.

The controversy centers on an alleged payment purportedly linked to Kohli’s first visit to Premanand Maharaj’s Vrindavan ashram in January 2023. According to reports citing Sharma, president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, the allegation was mentioned in a letter addressed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The claim alleges that a property builder lobby and a Rajasthan-based private company spent Rs 5 crore to facilitate Kohli’s visit, purportedly to increase the visibility and popularity of Premanand Maharaj by associating him with one of Indian cricket’s biggest names.

However, no publicly available documentary evidence has emerged to substantiate the claim that such a payment was made.

Kohli and his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, have continued to visit Premanand Maharaj’s ashram. The couple returned in 2025, including a visit following Kohli’s announcement of his retirement from Test cricket in May that year. They also visited the spiritual leader again this year. (IANS)