NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings cricketer Shashank Singh broke his silence after an FIR was registered against him, his father Shailesh Singh and his driver following a domestic cook’s allegations of assault, verbal abuse and forcing 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). Police have launched an investigation into the 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 said 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 held the complainant against his will.“No, we did not hold him hostage,” Shashank told ANI.“It’s true that he came claiming to be a cook, but he wasn’t a cook. He didn’t know how to cook; he was just there to have fun, taking videos and photos, and even going to my room. Since he was doing things like that, I suspect he came with the intention of stealing. We are very lucky that, from what we haven’t checked so far, nothing has been stolen.”The Punjab Kings batsman also explained why the complainant’s phone was taken.“It’s true that his phone contains videos and pictures of the house, so my mother made him delete them because they were very private.”Shashank also claimed that the police have not contacted him so far and said that they were planning to call the police themselves.“The police have not approached us so far. When we took them to take pictures and videos, my sister suggested to mark 100. But he prayed, and I let him go.”Refuting the allegations of assault and abuse, Shashank said:“It is possible that someone could put such accusations against me. I believe that anyone who knows me, knows that physical altercation is completely out of the question for me. I also hesitate to use abusive language, so I certainly could not do something like that. I don’t think I need to offer any justification regarding this.”According to the FIR, Tomar stated that he agreed to work in the residence after securing salary, food and accommodation.“I agreed to work here and stay in the residence after securing salary, food and accommodation,” Tomar said in his complaint.Tomar claimed that he was later told that there were defects in his work and that his mobile phone was taken.According to the complaint, the affair escalated on June 28 when he asked for her phone.“After preparing breakfast, I asked Shailesh Singh to return my mobile, but he refused. Ignoring this, I went to my room,” said Tomar.He also claimed that Shailesh Singh, Shashank Singh and their driver entered his room and assaulted him.“They abused me and started assaulting me with their hands and fists. After me, they forced me out of the house,” said Tomar in his statement to the police.The accused also claimed that Rs 1,000 was transferred from his mobile phone, with the accused claiming that the amount was deducted for food and accommodation expenses.The matter is currently under police investigation.