Punjab Kings cricketer Shashank Singh has denied the allegations of assault and wrongful confinement made by the home cook. Instead the cricketer has claimed that the employee had entered private areas of the family home and recorded video without permission, and was therefore fired from his job.

Shashank and his father Shailesh Singh – A former IPS officer was earlier named in an FIR lodged at Ratibad police station in Bhopal after his former cook Vipendra Singh Tomar accused him of physical assault, verbal abuse and keeping him in captivity against his will.

Responding to the allegations, Shashank rejected the claims and questioned the timeline presented in the complaint.

“Nothing like this happened. A person who comes on the evening of the 25th and leaves on the morning of the 28th – how can you call this taking someone hostage?” Shashank told PTI in an interview on Tuesday, June 30.

The cricketer also alleged that the chef misrepresented his experience and later admitted that he could not prepare the dishes he had initially claimed.

“The man came to us saying, ‘I know how to cook. I can cook all kinds of food.’ But then he himself admitted that actually he does not know how to cook properly. So how can you trust such a person?” He said.

Shashank Singh retaliated on the allegations

Shashank leveled allegations against the complainant, claiming that the employee had recorded videos inside the private parts of the family residence.

“He came into the house and started recording videos of the bedrooms. He also entered the bedroom, where expensive and luxury items were kept, recorded videos and sent them to other people,” alleged Shashank.

The Punjab Kings batsman said that his interaction with the chef was minimal and was largely limited to discussing his cooking background. According to Shashank, an acquaintance of his father had recommended the cook and asked for advance payment immediately after his arrival.

“He came through a friend of my father’s who recommended him, saying he knew how to cook all these dishes,” Shashank said.

“That’s why he was brought home, but as soon as he arrived he demanded an advance payment of Rs 20,000.”

Shashank claimed that his family had asked the cook to work for a few days before discussing compensation and deciding whether to continue the arrangement. The FIR against Shashank, his father and the family driver was lodged after Tomar alleged that he was assaulted after he expressed his desire to quit the job. Police said investigation is underway.

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