Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma paid Rs 5 crore to visit Premanand Maharaj ashram in Vrindavan? Couple issues statement

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s visits to Vrindavan spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj have come under renewed attention following the death of his disciple Rasik Dulari at the Radha Keli Kunj Ashram, with an allegation about the cricketer’s first visit also emerging amid questions surrounding the establishment.

The allegation was made by Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma, president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, who claimed in a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that a Rajasthan-based private company and a property builder lobby had allegedly spent Rs 5 crore to facilitate Kohli’s first visit to the ashram. Kohli’s team has categorically rejected the claim, saying his visits were driven by personal faith and reverence for Premanand Maharaj.

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How Kohli and Anushka’s association with Premanand Maharaj began

Kohli and Anushka first visited Premanand Maharaj in Vrindavan on January 4, 2023, when they sought his blessings. Their association with the spiritual leader continued over the following years, with the couple making several visits, including around IPL matches and during trips to India from London.

The visits have repeatedly attracted attention online, with videos of the couple at the ashram often circulating widely on social media. Their most recent visit was on July 22, 2026, when Kohli and Anushka were seen walking barefoot through the drizzle at the Vrindavan ashram while seeking Premanand Maharaj’s blessings.

What has the Rs 5 crore allegation claimed?

Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma alleged that money was spent to bring Kohli to the ashram as part of an effort to increase its popularity and reach. He further alleged that a builder lobby and land mafia had been using the name of Premanand Maharaj’s ashram for public relations and an alleged extortion racket.

The claims were made in the wake of the death of Premanand Maharaj’s disciple Rasik Dulari under mysterious circumstances at the Radha Keli Kunj Ashram. The circumstances surrounding the death are under investigation, and the allegations concerning the ashram and Kohli have not been established.

Couple rejects allegation

Kohli’s team has firmly denied the claim that the cricketer was paid to visit Premanand Maharaj.

“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.

It added that Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj “purely out of his deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji”.

Kohli’s team also urged media organisations and others sharing the allegation to verify the claims before reporting or amplifying them, calling for due diligence and responsible reporting.

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Why the visits have drawn attention

Kohli and Anushka’s association with Premanand Maharaj has been closely followed online since their first visit in 2023. Footage from their meetings and visits to the Vrindavan ashram has frequently circulated on social media, drawing attention to the couple’s spiritual association with the religious leader.

The latest controversy has brought that association back into focus following Rasik Dulari’s death and the subsequent allegations. While the claims surrounding the alleged payment for Kohli’s first visit have been rejected by his team, the investigation into the disciple’s death remains underway.