A controversy surrounding Virat Kohli’s visits to spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj has erupted online after a claim surfaced alleging that Rs 5 crore was involved in bringing the cricketer to the guru’s Vrindavan ashram.
Kohli’s spokesperson has firmly rejected the allegation, saying there is no truth to the claim. The statement comes after the allegation gained traction on social media and prompted widespread discussion about the cricketer’s association with Premanand Maharaj.
“The claims being made are completely false, baseless and factually incorrect,” Kohli’s spokesperson said.
The spokesperson further stated that Kohli’s visits have been a matter of personal belief and that the cricketer has a deep sense of faith and respect for Premanand Maharaj.
How the Rs 5 crore claim surfaced
The allegation has been attributed to Dinesh Sharma, popularly known as Falahari Maharaj and associated with the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas.
Reports said Sharma referred to the alleged payment in a communication addressed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The claim reportedly linked the alleged expenditure to Kohli’s first visit to Premanand Maharaj’s ashram in Vrindavan in January 2023.
It was further alleged that a private company based in Rajasthan and a property-builder lobby were involved in the purported arrangement, allegedly with an interest in increasing the spiritual leader’s reach and popularity.
However, no publicly available financial document, agreement or transaction record has emerged to substantiate the Rs 5 crore allegation.
Kohli and Anushka’s association with Premanand Maharaj
Kohli’s meetings with Premanand Maharaj have been public for several years. He and Anushka Sharma first visited the Vrindavan ashram in January 2023 along with their daughter Vamika.
Pictures and videos from the meeting quickly spread across social media, bringing considerable attention to the couple’s interaction with the spiritual leader.
The family returned to the ashram on subsequent occasions. Kohli also met Premanand Maharaj in 2025, around the time he announced his decision to retire from Test cricket. The couple has reportedly visited him again this year.
Their repeated appearances have led to considerable public interest, particularly among Kohli’s supporters and followers of the spiritual leader.
Social media turns the allegation into a debate
As the Rs 5 crore claim circulated, social media users began weighing in from opposing sides. Some questioned the allegation and demanded evidence, while others came out in support of Premanand Maharaj and criticised those questioning his association with Kohli.
A number of posts urged people to place faith in the spiritual leader, while others accused critics of attempting to damage his reputation.
Kohli’s camp, however, has maintained that the allegation is without basis and has urged media organisations to exercise caution before presenting such claims as fact.
With no publicly disclosed evidence backing the alleged payment, the controversy currently rests on an unverified claim that has been categorically denied by the cricketer’s representative.
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