Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh on Tuesday denied allegations of assaulting and verbally abusing his cook. His remarks comes after a complaint was lodged by 31-year-old Vipendra Singh Tomar, who alleged that he was verbally abused physically assaulted and and forcibly taking away his mobile phone while working at Shashank’s family residence.
Tomar has levelled serious allegations against Shashank, claiming the cricketer physically assaulted him. While Shashank father has been claiming the individual was not a cook and suggesting he may have entered the house with the intention of stealing.
Speaking to media, Shashank said neither he nor his family assaulted Tomar or prevented him from leaving the house. “He came to us claiming to be a cook, but he was not one at all. He did not know how to cook. Instead, he spent his time making videos and taking photos and even entered my room,” Shashank said. He further said that the family’s suspicion was that the man may have intended to steal, though nothing appeared to be missing after they checked the house.
Shashank said Tomar’s phone contained photographs and videos taken inside the residence, prompting his mother to ask him to delete them as they were private. According to the cricketer, his sister had suggested informing the police after they discovered him recording videos inside the house. However, he claimed the man pleaded with the family, following which they allowed him to leave.
“It is possible that someone could make such allegations against me to defame me,” Shashank said.
In his complaint, Vipendra Singh Tomar alleged that he was assaulted by Shashank Singh and the cricketer’s driver after deciding to quit the job. According to reports, a medical examination conducted by the police found visible injury marks on Tomar’s body. Tomar, a resident of Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district, had been employed at Shashank’s family residence in Mendori village through a mutual acquaintance.
Rejecting the allegations, Shashank said people who know him would understand that violence is not part of his personality. “I believe anyone who knows me understands that physical altercations are completely out of character for me. I don’t even like using abusive language, so I certainly could not do something like that,” he said.