A Rs 5-crore payment claim involving Virat Kohli has been rejected by the cricketer’s team as the Radha Keli Kunj Ashram faces scrutiny following the death of disciple Rasik Dulari.
BY PC Bureau
October 7: Cricket star Virat Kohli has rejected a claim that he was paid to visit spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj’s ashram in Vrindavan, calling the allegation false and baseless.
The allegation was made by Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma, president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, amid growing scrutiny of Premanand Maharaj’s Radha Keli Kunj Ashram following the mysterious death of a disciple.
Kohli’s spokesperson issued a strong denial, saying: “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 statement said Kohli’s visits were motivated solely by his personal faith in the spiritual leader.
“Mr. Virat Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj Ji purely out of his deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji. 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 said.
This is the video about which the controversy erupted regarding the visit of Virat Kohli and Anushka’s to Premanand Maharaj.
It is alleged that people interested in land property spent ₹5 crore to bring the cricketer and his actress wife to the spiritual leader’s ashram as part of a promotional strategy.
If it is true, then can you imagine how far marketing strategies can go, and to what level, where ethics and morals are just things of past in front money.
— Super Polite (@polite_super) October 6, 2026
Sharma had alleged that Rs 5 crore was paid to bring Kohli to the ashram as part of an effort to boost Premanand Maharaj’s popularity. There is, however, no evidence establishing that Kohli or his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, received any such payment for visiting the ashram.
Kohli and Anushka are regular visitors to the Radha Keli Kunj Ashram. The couple’s first widely reported visit was on January 4, 2023, following which they visited Premanand Maharaj several times. Their association with the spiritual leader has continued even after Kohli retired from T20I cricket.
Premanand Maharaj’s Ashram Under Investigation
The ashram has come under scrutiny following the death of disciple Rasik Dulari, who died on September 25 after falling from the fourth floor of the premises.
Mathura police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, including whether he had been experiencing mental stress or depression.
Investigators are examining Rasik Dulari’s life before he joined the ashram and any changes in his behaviour afterwards. Police are also analysing his old mobile phone, a new SIM card, call-detail records, chats and other digital evidence to establish whom he had contacted in the days before his death.
Police have so far recorded the statements of 85 people as part of the investigation into the death.
