Dehradun: In a controversy on Harish Rawat government before assembly poll results that are to be out on March 11, a BJP member has said that Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli was paid Rs 47.19 lakh in June 2015 from the funds earmarked for victims of the deadly 2013 Kedarnath floods for appearing in a 60 second tourism video. Kohli had at that time been recruited as the brand ambassador for the state of Uttarakhand.

This came even as Bunty Sajdeh, Virat's agent and founder & CEO, Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment, said, "There has been no monetary transaction whatsoever."

Responding on the charges, Surendra Kumar, media advisor to the CM said, "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. BJP is on the verge of losing elections, so it is coming up with such diversionary tactics out of frustration."