Cricketer Shashank Singh on Tuesday flatly denied allegations of assaulting a man employed at his family's Bhopal residence, asserting that the complainant had misrepresented himself as a cook and suggesting that a deliberate attempt was being made to implicate his family. The denial came a day after Ratibad police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against him, his father, and retired Madhya Pradesh Special Director General of Police Shailesh Singh, and their driver.

Background: What the FIR Alleges

The complaint was filed by Vipendra Singh Tomar, a resident of Rewa district, who alleged that he joined the family's Neelbad residence on 25 June after being promised a monthly salary of ₹15,000 along with food and accommodation. Tomar alleged that following complaints about shortcomings in his work, his mobile phone was confiscated. He further claimed that on 28 June, Shailesh Singh, Shashank Singh, and their driver assaulted and abused him, forced him out of the house, and transferred ₹1,000 from his phone towards food and accommodation expenses. Based on his complaint, Ratibad police registered a case against the three accused under Sections 296(B), 115(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Shashank Singh's Version of Events

Breaking his silence on the controversy, Shashank Singh maintained that the complainant was never formally appointed as a cook because the man himself admitted he did not know how to cook when asked to prepare food.

'First of all, I want to clarify that he was not a cook. He came claiming that he was a cook, but when he was asked to prepare food, he admitted that he did not know how to cook. He himself later said that he didn't know cooking,' the cricketer said.

He further alleged that the man was photographing and recording videos inside the house — including of rooms and decorative items — which prompted the family to inspect his mobile phone. 'I suspected that this could later turn into a theft-related issue. We checked his mobile phone because it contained photos and videos from inside our house,' Shashank Singh said.

Denying Assault and Wrongful Confinement

Shashank Singh categorically denied allegations of physical violence or wrongful confinement, stating that the complainant left the residence with his mobile phone intact. 'The allegation that he was held hostage for three days is extremely serious. We belong to a reputed family, and we would never indulge in such acts. When he left, he took his phone with him. If he got into a fight or was assaulted outside, how can I be responsible for that?' he said. He acknowledged that his mother had scolded the complainant for recording videos inside the house but insisted no assault or abuse took place on the premises. He added that his family believed 'someone was orchestrating' the incident.

Police Confirm Investigation Under Way

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Anil Sharma confirmed that the case is currently under investigation. 'A complaint was filed by a cook, following which a case involving charges of assault has been registered. The entire matter is under investigation. A case of assault has been registered against three individuals,' Sharma said. Notably, this case draws attention given that one of the accused, Shailesh Singh, is a retired senior police officer of the state — a detail that critics argue adds a layer of institutional sensitivity to the probe. The investigation is expected to determine whether the complainant's account or the cricketer's version holds up against available evidence, including any digital records from the mobile phone in question.