‘I was asked to pay Rs 7.5 lakh’: PBKS batter Shashank Singh alleges money demand to withdraw FIR

Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh has alleged that he received multiple calls demanding money in exchange for the withdrawal of an assault case filed against him and his father, claiming the FIR was part of an extortion attempt aimed at damaging his reputation.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Shashank said unknown callers demanded Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh, assuring him that the case would be withdrawn if he paid.

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“I was receiving calls from unknown numbers. One caller demanded Rs 5 lakh, saying that if I paid the amount, the case would be withdrawn. Another caller demanded Rs 7.5 lakh, making the same offer. 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.

Last month, Shashank and his father, retired Special Director General (DG) of Police Shailesh Singh, were booked by Ratibad police after a cook employed at their residence accused them of assault, wrongful confinement, abuse and forcibly taking away his mobile phone.

The cricketer claimed his family was later shocked to discover the complainant’s alleged criminal history.

“An FIR had already been registered against him. This was not the first time. Cases had been registered against him since 2018. He was a habitual criminal, and there was even an attempt-to-murder case against him. We were shocked because when he left our house, he was fine. What happened afterwards? From the videos I saw, it all appeared to be an attempt to extort money from us,” he said.

Shashank calls FIR a ‘tool of harassment’

Earlier in the day, the PBKS batter issued a detailed statement on Instagram, describing the FIR as a “false complaint” used as a tool of extortion and harassment.

He said the episode changed him personally, recalling how he was portrayed overnight as someone who had assaulted an underprivileged individual.

Shashank also claimed police records later revealed that the complainant had nine FIRs registered against him and had been charge-sheeted in eight cases involving various offences.

The 34-year-old further dismissed reports linking him to another alleged incident on April 30, pointing out that he was playing in the IPL on that date.

Maintaining that the allegations were intended to pressure him into paying money, Shashank urged people to conduct proper police verification and background checks before employing domestic staff.