NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings cricketer Shashank Singh has broken his silence after an FIR was registered against him, his father Shailesh Singh and their driver following allegations by a domestic cook of assault, verbal abuse and forcibly taking away his mobile phone.According to an IANS report, the Ratibad police in Bhopal have registered a case under Sections 296(B), 115(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police have launched an investigation into the allegations. The complainant, Vipendra Singh Tomar, a resident of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh, told police that he joined work as a cook at the Singh family’s bungalow in Neelbad on June 25. He alleged he was promised a monthly salary of Rs 15,000 along with food and accommodation.Responding to the allegations, Shashank denied that he or his family assaulted or held the complainant against his will.“No, we didn’t hold him hostage,” Shashank told ANI.“It is true that he arrived claiming to be a cook, but he wasn’t a cook at all. He didn’t know how to cook; he was just here to have fun, taking videos and photos, and even going into my room. Since he was doing things like that, I suspect he came with the intention of stealing. We are very fortunate that, from what we’ve checked so far, nothing has been stolen.”The Punjab Kings batter also explained why the complainant’s phone was taken.“It is true that his phone contained videos and photos of the house, so my mother had him delete them because they were very private.”Shashank further claimed that the police have not contacted him so far and said they had considered calling the police themselves.“The police haven’t approached us so far. When we caught him taking photos and videos, my sister suggested dialing 100. But he pleaded, and I let him go.”Rejecting the allegations of assault and abuse, Shashank said:“It is possible that someone might level such allegations against me. I believe that anyone who knows me, knows that physical altercation is completely out of the question for me. I hesitate even to use abusive language, so I certainly couldn’t do something like that. I don’t think I need to offer any justification regarding this.”According to the FIR, Tomar alleged that he agreed to work at the residence after being assured of salary, food and lodging.“I agreed to work there and stayed at the residence after being assured of salary, food and lodging,” Tomar said in his complaint.Tomar claimed he was later told there were shortcomings in his work and that his mobile phone was taken away.According to the complaint, the matter escalated on June 28 when he asked for his phone back.“After preparing breakfast, I asked Shailesh Singh to return my mobile phone, but he refused. Upset over this, I went to my room,” Tomar alleged.He further alleged that Shailesh Singh, Shashank Singh and their driver entered his room and assaulted him.“They abused me and started assaulting me with their hands and fists. After beating me, they forced me out of the house,” Tomar alleged in his statement to police.The complainant also alleged that Rs 1,000 was transferred from his mobile phone, with the accused claiming the amount was deducted towards food and accommodation expenses.The matter is currently under police investigation.
