Uttarakhand government paid Virat Kohli Rs 47 lakh from floods fund – Report

Kohli had appeared in a 60-second tourism video after being named the brand ambassador for the state of Uttarakhand.

New Delhi: The Harish Rawat-led Uttarakhand government has come in got itself into a big controversy ahead of assembly poll results after an RTI activist claimed that the Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli was paid a sum of Rs. 47.19 lakh in June 2015 from funds reserved for upliftment of 2013 Kedarnath flood victims.

As per a report in TOI, Kohli appeared in a 60-second tourism video after being named the brand ambassador for the state of Uttarakhand, for which he was paid the sum year marked for victims of the flood that hit the state in 2013.

Virat's agent Bunty Shah, who is also the founder & CEO of Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment, denied the reports saying, "There has been no monetary transaction whatsoever."

The Uttarakhand CM"s media advisor, Surendra Kumar, termed the allegations baseless saying, "Tourism forms the backbone of the state's economy, therefore what is wrong if a prominent face is chosen to promote the state's destinations? Everything has been done in a legal way. These allegations are baseless. People know that redevelopment of Kedarnath has always been the priority of our government. BJP is on the verge of losing elections, so it is coming up with such diversionary tactics out of frustration."

"I will ask the relevant departments to check details of the payment made to Kohli. "It is BJP that is alleging that Virat Kohli was paid the money through an RTI that they have obtained. If the cricketer's representative is claiming that they haven't received the amount, we will get it checked."

Ajendra Ajay, who had filed the RTI query claimed that the RTI report confirms that Kohli was paid money by the district disaster management authority.

"The RTI reply shows that the amount was paid by the district disaster management authority of Rudraprayag after a clearance given by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Management Authority through an email. Why were the state disaster bodies used to pay Kohli? Also, what is the requirement of a brand ambassador for the state? What role do they play in the long run? This is nothing but sheer waste of money," Ajay said.