Virat Kohli's team has strongly denied reports that the Indian cricketer was paid ₹5 crore to meet with spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj in Vrindavan, calling the allegations "completely false, baseless and factually incorrect".
The comments were made after spiritual leader Dinesh Falahari Maharaj, president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, accused a property cartel of paying Kohli ₹5 crore to meet with Premanand Maharaj. The accusation followed a video of Falahari Maharaj's claims going viral on social media.
The claims have not been independently verified.
Kohli's Team Condemns ₹5 Crore Payment Claim
In a strongly worded statement, Kohli's representatives directly addressed the allegations and denied that Kohli had been paid to meet with 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.
The cricketer's representatives stated that Kohli's meetings with Premanand Maharaj are based on the cricketer's "faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji".
"Mr. Virat Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj Ji purely out of his deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji," the statement said.
The clarification also sought to distance Kohli from the property cartel that Falahari Maharaj accused of facilitating the meetings.
Team Asks Media Outlets to Verify Claims Before Publishing
Kohli's representatives also urged media outlets and other organizations to "verify such allegations" before publishing or sharing them.
"We strongly refute these claims and urge the media to exercise due diligence, verify facts before reporting or amplifying such statements, and report responsibly," the statement said.
Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, have visited Vrindavan and Premanand Maharaj's Shri Radha Keli Kunj Ashram a number of times in the past few years, and have often been photographed and video graphed seeking the spiritual leader's blessings.
Their most recent visits in 2025 and 2026 also generated a large amount of social media attention and fanfare.
Kohli has had a long-standing relationship with Premanand Maharaj, and has often spoken of the spiritual leader's role in his life, as well as his wife and daughter's lives.
Kohli's Team Refutes ₹5 Crore Claims
With Kohli's latest clarification, his representatives have strongly refuted the ₹5 crore payment claims and reaffirmed the cricketer's belief in Premanand Maharaj.
They have also asked the media to "report responsibly" when it comes to allegations made against the cricketer, as well as encouraged fact-checking of dubious claims made on social media.