Virat Kohli Reacts To Claims Of Visiting Pemanand Ji Maharaj After Being Paid Rs 5 Crore
Virat Kohli’s representatives strongly denied the claim and said the former India captain’s association with Premanand Maharaj has been driven by personal faith.
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Virat Kohli, a former India captain and one of the greatest batters to have every played the sport, on Wednesday rejected allegations that his first visit to spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj’s ashram was facilitated by a payment of Rs 5 crore, calling the claim “false, baseless and factually incorrect”. The clarification came after Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma, president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, made the allegation in connection with the ongoing investigation into the death of Premanand Maharaj’s disciple Rasik Dulari.
ALSO READ | Watch: Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma Visit Premanand Ji Maharaj For Second Time In Six Months
Virat Kohli’s representatives strongly denied the claim and said the former India captain’s association with Premanand Maharaj has been driven by personal faith. In a statement, his spokesperson said Kohli visits the spiritual leader “purely out of his deep faith and reverence”. The statement also urged media organisations and others sharing the allegation to verify information before publishing or amplifying such claims.
“We would like to categorically state that the claims made by Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma in regards to Mr Virat Kohli are completely false, baseless and factually incorrect,” the official statement stated.
“Mr Virat Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj Ji purely out of his deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji.” It concluded, “We strongly refute these claims and urge the media to exercise due diligence, verify facts before reporting or amplifying such statements, and report responsibly,” it added.
ALSO READ | Watch: Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli Visit Premanand Maharaj’s Ashram After RCB’s IPL 2026 Win
The controversy follows allegations made by Dinesh Sharma regarding the activities surrounding the ashram. In a letter addressed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he alleged that a Rajasthan-based company and a property-builder lobby had spent Rs 5 crore to arrange Kohli’s first visit in 2023, claiming that the move was intended to increase the ashram’s popularity. Those allegations have not been established as facts, and the investigation into Rasik Dulari’s death remains ongoing.
Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, first visited Premanand Maharaj in Vrindavan on January 4, 2023. The couple has since returned to meet the spiritual leader on several occasions, with their visits frequently attracting attention online.
Their appearances at the ashram have often gone viral, particularly because of the couple’s visible expressions of faith. Their latest visit came on July 22, 2026, when Kohli and Anushka were seen walking barefoot through the rain while making their way to seek Premanand Maharaj’s blessings.
Speaking of Virat Kohli, he was last seen in action in the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. He will next travel to New Zealand for the upcoming five-match ODI series, beginning November 2026. The stalwart has already made it clear that he wants to play the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
