NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings cricketer Shashank Singh broke 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 forceful taking of 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). The police launched an investigation into those allegations. The complainant, Vipendra Singh Tomar, a resident of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh, told the police that he joined the job as a cook at the Singh family’s bungalow in Neelbad on June 25. He alleged that 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 restrained the complainant against her will.“No, we did not take him hostage,” Shashank told ANI.“It’s true that he came claiming to be a cook, but he’s not really a cook. He doesn’t know how to cook; he’s just here to have fun, take videos and photos, and even enter my room. Since he did something like that, I suspect he came with the intention of stealing. We’re very lucky 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’s true that his phone has videos and photos of the house, so my mother made him delete it because it’s too private.”Shashank further claimed that the police have not contacted him so far and said that they are considering calling the police themselves.“The police have not 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 will level such allegations against me. I believe that anyone who knows me, knows that a physical dispute is absolutely out of the question for me. I hesitate even to use abusive language, so I would never do something like that. I don’t think I need to give any justification for this. “According to the FIR, Tomar alleged that he agreed to work at the residence after being assured of salary, food and shelter.“I agreed to work there and stayed at the residence after I secured the salary, food and shelter,” said Tomar in his complaint.Tomar claimed that he was later told that there were deficiencies in his work and that his mobile phone was confiscated.According to the complaint, the case 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 attacking me with their hands and fists. After beating me, they forced me out of the house,” Tomar alleged in his statement to the police.The complainant also alleged that Rs 1,000 was transferred from her mobile phone, where the accused claimed that the amount was deducted for food and accommodation expenses.The police are currently investigating the matter.