Virat Kohli has rejected allegations that he was paid Rs 5 crore to visit spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj's ashram in Vrindavan, with the cricketer's spokesperson describing the claim as “completely false, baseless and factually incorrect”. The clarification comes amid a controversy surrounding Premanand Maharaj following the mysterious death of a disciple at his Radha Keli Kunj Ashram. Kohli and his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, have been regular visitors to the ashram, with their first notable publicised visit taking place on January 4, 2023. Their association with the spiritual leader has remained a subject of public interest, particularly because of Kohli's profile as one of India's most prominent cricketers.

The allegation about the alleged payment was made by Falahari Maharaj, president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas. He claimed that Rs 5 crore was paid to bring Kohli to Premanand Maharaj's ashram as part of an effort to increase the spiritual leader's popularity. The claim subsequently attracted attention because Kohli's visits to the ashram have been documented and widely discussed. However, Kohli's spokesperson has categorically rejected the allegation, saying that the claim was not only baseless but also factually incorrect. The response places the alleged payment at the centre of the dispute while making clear that Kohli's side denies receiving money in connection with his visits.

Kohli and Anushka have visited Radha Keli Kunj Ashram on multiple occasions to meet Premanand Maharaj and seek his blessings. Their first widely noted visit took place in January 2023, and subsequent interactions have also attracted considerable attention. The couple's visits have been followed closely by cricket supporters and the public, with photographs and videos from their meetings with the spiritual leader circulating widely. Their association has therefore been established independently of the latest allegation, but the claim regarding a payment has not been established by the information available and has been directly rejected by Kohli's representative.

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The latest controversy involving the ashram has brought renewed focus on the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of a disciple at Radha Keli Kunj Ashram. It was against this backdrop that allegations concerning Kohli's visit emerged. The claims have generated discussion because of the cricketer's high public profile and his known association with Premanand Maharaj. However, the allegation concerning the alleged Rs 5 crore payment is separate from the circumstances surrounding the disciple's death. There is no allegation in the information provided that Kohli was involved in the death or any related incident at the ashram. His name has been drawn into the wider discussion because of his visits and the financial claim made about them.

Falahari Maharaj's statement alleged that Kohli's presence at the ashram was arranged through a payment intended to help increase Premanand Maharaj's popularity. Such a claim, if substantiated, would raise questions about the nature of celebrity visits to spiritual establishments. However, Kohli's spokesperson has rejected the allegation in its entirety. The response did not merely dispute the amount but described the broader claim as “completely false, baseless and factually incorrect”. In the absence of evidence supporting the payment allegation, the claim remains a disputed assertion rather than an established fact. The distinction is important given the public attention surrounding both Kohli and Premanand Maharaj.

Kohli's connection with Premanand Maharaj predates the current controversy by several years. His January 4, 2023 visit with Anushka marked the first major public appearance of the couple at Radha Keli Kunj Ashram, after which they continued to be associated with the spiritual leader through subsequent visits. Kohli's spokesperson has now sought to draw a clear line between that documented spiritual association and the allegation of a financial arrangement. The denial means the Rs 5 crore claim remains contested, while the wider controversy surrounding the ashram and the death of the disciple continues to attract public attention. For now, Kohli's position is that there was no payment for his visit and that the allegation is entirely without factual basis.

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