Virat Kohli refutes claim he visited Pemanand Ji Maharaj for Rs 5 cr: ‘Out of deep faith’

Virat Kohli has refuted allegations that he paid Rs 5 crore to visit the ashram of spiritual leader Premanand Ji Maharaj. The cricketer maintains that his visits to the ashram were driven solely by deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji. The claims emerged after the mysterious death of a disciple, Rasik Dulari, at Premanand Ji Maharaj's Radha Keli Kunj Ashram.

Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma, president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, alleged that Kohli was paid a large sum to first visit the ashram in 2023, as part of an alleged extortion racket involving land mafia and property builders. Kohli's team swiftly dispelled the claims in an official statement, stating that the allegations are "completely false, baseless and factually incorrect."

The statement emphasized that Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj Ji out of deep faith and added a plea for responsible reporting from the media. The controversy began following Rasik Dulari's death, with Sharma claiming the ashram was being exploited for public relations and financial gain. The couple's visits to the ashram began on January 4, 2023, and have continued at various intervals, including before and after IPL matches and during their travels from London.