New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A claim that Virat Kohli was paid Rs 5 crore to visit spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj’s ashram in Vrindavan has sparked a social media storm, prompting a strong rebuttal from the cricketer’s spokesperson.
The allegation, which circulated widely online, has been dismissed as entirely untrue. Kohli’s spokesperson described the claim as “completely false, baseless and factually incorrect” and said the cricketer’s visits to Premanand Maharaj have been motivated by personal faith and respect.
The controversy began after Dinesh Sharma, also known as Falahari Maharaj and associated with the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, reportedly raised the Rs 5 crore figure in a letter addressed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
According to reports, Sharma alleged that money had been spent or offered in connection with Kohli’s first visit to Premanand Maharaj’s Vrindavan ashram in January 2023. The claim further alleged that a Rajasthan-based private company and a group associated with property developers were involved, supposedly with the intention of boosting the spiritual leader’s public profile.
No documentary evidence supporting the alleged payment has been made public.
Kohli camp calls allegation baseless
Responding to the reports, Kohli’s spokesperson categorically rejected the allegation and questioned the basis on which the claim was being circulated.
The spokesperson said Kohli’s meetings with Premanand Maharaj stem from his “deep faith and reverence” for the spiritual leader. The media was also urged to verify claims before publishing or amplifying them.
The denial comes as the allegation continues to circulate across social media platforms, where users have debated the reported amount as well as Kohli’s relationship with the spiritual figure.
Kohli and Anushka have visited the ashram several times
Kohli’s association with Premanand Maharaj is not new. The former India captain and his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, first visited the spiritual leader’s Vrindavan ashram in January 2023, accompanied by their daughter, Vamika.
Images and videos from that meeting received considerable attention online.
The couple subsequently returned to meet Premanand Maharaj. Kohli visited again in 2025 around the period when he announced his retirement from Test cricket, while the couple has also made another visit this year.
These meetings have generally been shared publicly through photographs and videos, contributing to wider interest in the cricketer’s spiritual journey.
Social media debate intensifies
The Rs 5 crore allegation has since become a subject of heated discussion online. One social media post asked users whether they trusted Premanand Maharaj, prompting numerous responses from people defending the spiritual leader.
Several users expressed faith in him, while others criticised what they viewed as attempts to question his reputation.
Despite the online attention surrounding the allegation, the reported Rs 5 crore payment has not been backed by any publicly disclosed contract, invoice, bank transaction or other payment record.
For now, the only clear response from Kohli’s side has been an unequivocal denial, with his spokesperson maintaining that the claim has no factual basis.
