Few celebrity rituals are followed as closely in India as Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's visits to spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj in Vrindavan. This week, those visits landed at the centre of an allegation that the cricketer's team has rejected in the strongest terms.

A religious figure has claimed that Rs 5 crore was spent to bring Kohli to the ashram for the first time in 2023. Kohli's spokesperson has called the claim "completely false, baseless and factually incorrect." Here is what we know.

What the Rs 5 crore claim says

The allegation was made by Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma, president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, according to The Indian Express and The Economic Times.

In a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Sharma alleged that a Rajasthan-based private company and a property builder lobby had spent Rs 5 crore to facilitate Kohli's first visit to the ashram in 2023. He alleged that the motive was to boost the popularity and reach of the ashram.

Sharma 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 Economic Times reports. None of these claims has been established, and no evidence for them has been made public in the reports.

Why the allegation surfaced now

The claims came in the wake of the death of Rasik Dulari, a disciple of Premanand Maharaj, under what reports describe as mysterious circumstances at the Radha Keli Kunj Ashram. The Indian Express reports that an investigation into the death is underway.

Sharma's letter connected that case to wider allegations about the ashram's associations, which is how the cricketer's name entered the story.

Virat Kohli's team issues a statement

Kohli's spokesperson responded with an official statement, quoted by The Indian Express and The Economic Times.

"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 continued: "Mr Virat Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj Ji purely out of his deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji." The statement ended with a direct appeal to the press: "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 Economic Times reports that the denial covers both Kohli and Anushka Sharma, saying the couple's visits were motivated by personal faith.

Virat and Anushka's history with Premanand Maharaj

The couple first visited Premanand Maharaj in Vrindavan on January 4, 2023, to seek his blessings, according to The Indian Express. Since then, they have returned several times, including around IPL matches and during trips back to India from London.

Videos from these visits regularly go viral. Their most recent visit was on July 22, 2026, when the couple was seen walking barefoot through the drizzle at the ashram, The Indian Express reports.

That steady, public devotion is a large part of why the allegation drew so much attention. For millions of fans, the Vrindavan clips have become part of the Kohli-Anushka story, as familiar as Kohli's cover drives and Anushka's films.

What happens next

For now, the matter rests on an allegation in a letter and a categorical denial. The Economic Times notes that the allegations concerning the ashram and Kohli have not been established, while the investigation into Rasik Dulari's death continues.

In the reports so far, neither Kohli nor Anushka Sharma has commented personally beyond the spokesperson's statement. Any official findings from the investigation would be the next significant development.

Frequently asked questions

Were Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma paid Rs 5 crore to visit Premanand Maharaj?

That is an allegation made by Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma in a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. Kohli's team has called it "completely false, baseless and factually incorrect," and it has not been established.

What did Virat Kohli's spokesperson say?

The statement said Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj "purely out of his deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji" and urged the media to verify facts before reporting.

When did Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma first visit Premanand Maharaj?

According to The Indian Express, their first visit to Vrindavan was on January 4, 2023. Their most recent reported visit was on July 22, 2026.

Why did the allegation come up?

It surfaced after the death of Rasik Dulari, a disciple of Premanand Maharaj, at the Radha Keli Kunj Ashram. That death is under investigation.

Cover photo: Bollywood Hungama / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0