Punjab Kings cricketer Shashank Singh has alleged that he received calls from unknown numbers demanding ₹5 lakh and ₹7.5 lakh in exchange for the withdrawal of an assault case filed against him and his father in Bhopal, claiming the episode was a calculated attempt at extortion designed to damage his public reputation.

The Assault Case

Shashank and his father, retired Special Director General of Police Shailesh Singh, were booked by the Ratibad police last month after a cook employed at their residence accused them of allegedly confining and assaulting him, verbally abusing him, and forcibly seizing his mobile phone. The case drew significant attention given Shashank's profile as an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketer.

The Extortion Calls

'I was receiving calls from unknown numbers. One caller demanded ₹5 lakh, saying that if I paid the amount, the case would be withdrawn. Another caller demanded ₹7.5 lakh, making the same offer to get the case withdrawn. At that time, we did not know that he was a professional criminal. Gradually, we came to know that several cases had already been registered against him. He had allegedly come with the intention of tarnishing my reputation…' Shashank said.

The middle-order batter stated that his family was shocked upon learning of the complainant's alleged criminal history, which reportedly includes cases registered since 2018 and an attempt-to-murder charge under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code.

What Shashank Claims About the Complainant

'An FIR had already been registered against him. This was not the first time. Cases had been registered against him since 2018. He had done this before as well. He was a habitual criminal, and there was even an attempt-to-murder case registered against him under Section 307. All of this was shocking for me,' he said. According to Shashank, police records subsequently revealed that the man had nine FIRs registered against him and had been charge-sheeted in eight cases for various offences.

Shashank also claimed that when the complainant left their house, he was unharmed, and that the family was later shocked to see videos showing him with injuries — footage he described as appearing staged to build a case for extortion.

Social Media Statement and Earlier Denial

On Sunday, Shashank had issued a detailed statement on social media denying the allegations and characterising the FIR as a tool deployed to extort money from a public figure. Writing on Instagram, he said: 'This incident changed me forever and taught me lessons I will carry for life. I am not writing this for sympathy. I am writing it because this was the first time my family and I experienced something like this, and I hope others learn from it.'

The cricketer also rejected reports linking him to a separate alleged incident on 30 April 2026, noting that he was actively participating in the IPL at the time — a verifiable alibi given public match records.

Key Advice and What Comes Next

Shashank urged people to conduct thorough background checks and formal police verification before employing domestic staff. The assault case filed by the Ratibad police remains active, and no further arrests or closures have been reported as of 12 July. The allegations and counter-allegations are yet to be adjudicated, and the matter is expected to proceed through the legal process in the weeks ahead.