Pardeep Kumar, 47, of Newhall
[KHTS]– Santa Clarita Valley deputies arrested a restaurant owner for involuntary servitude and human trafficking charges, officials said.
Pardeep Kumar, 47, of Newhall, was arrested for mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, involuntary servitude and human trafficking, and is currently being held at Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station in lieu of $100,000 bail.
The incident took place at the Tandoori Grill at the 23300 block of Valencia Boulevard in Valencia.
Santa Clarita Valley deputies arrested a business owner for involuntary servitude and human trafficking charges, officials said.
Deputies arrived at the restaurant and began an investigation around 2:30 p.m. Monday, and Kumar was ultimately arrested at the restaurant Monday evening, officials said.
Deputies located an employee at the business who said he had been forced by the owner of the restaurant to work as a cook without pay for approximately three years.
The victim regularly worked 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week. The victim alleged that he was physically assaulted by the owner whenever he made any mistakes while performing his duties.
Deputies were also told that the victim had been forced to live at the restaurant owner’s home, and was driven to and from work. The victim further said he was not allowed to communicate with anyone in the outside world.
Santa Clarita personnel notified the Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau who responded with their Human Trafficking Task Force members. Their Federal partners, Homeland Security Investigations Bureau, also responded to assist along with a Los Angeles County District Attorney investigator.
The Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau handles all commercial sex and labor related human trafficking crimes throughout the County.
The owner of the restaurant, later identified as a 47-year-old male from Newhall, was placed under arrest for Mayhem, Assault With A Deadly Weapon, Involuntary Servitude, and Human Trafficking, and is currently being held at Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station in lieu of $100,000 bail.
He is scheduled to appear in North Valley Superior Court on March 26, 2015. Anyone who may have witnessed any other incidents relating to this case, or if you have any further information, please contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station at 661-255-1121.
You can also remain anonymous by calling “LA Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website at LAcrimstoppers.org.
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247 Comments
Tim Seaton isn’t this the restaurant that had the terrible website with the flames??
Adrii Riivas Jose Alberto
This is disturbing! I bet there is a lot of this going on around here!
Boycott!
You do realize you don’t need to stage a boycott for something like this. Yeah its a fun word…. but business will majorly suffer on its own. Don’t worry they’ll be closed in a month
You do realize you don’t need to stage a boycott for something like this. Yeah its a fun word…. but business will majorly suffer on its own. Don’t worry they’ll be closed in a month
Dani Patriarca
This is the Indian restaurant we used to only go to and dealt with all of the ownership changes from the time we moved up here in 1998, until we started going to our new all-time favorite one! I’m so glad now that for the past almost 2 years the only Indian restaurant we frequent here in town is Parashars’s Indian Kitchen!
Do they have any slaves there? Maybe we should ask.
Do they have any slaves there? Maybe we should ask.
Danny, seriously? Parashar’s is above reproach… That family is the nicest, hardest working group of people and they cook the best Indian food in the SCV!
That is horrifyingly disgusting. I know you’re trying to make a joke… But when it comes to how involved she is in giving back to our community, where many people know of Poonam Sharma Parashar and her restaurant, I don’t even know what else to say that you would try to make light of it.
That is horrifyingly disgusting. I know you’re trying to make a joke… But when it comes to how involved she is in giving back to our community, where many people know of Poonam Sharma Parashar and her restaurant, I don’t even know what else to say that you would try to make light of it.
I just read it Danny, I treat my employees like my own kids. I sponsored one of my employees wife from India and took the responsibility for five years. If our employee get sick we take them to hospital even if we have to close our restaurant. If employees are happy they will make good food and keep the restaurant clean. That’s the only reason people love to come to my restaurant. Happy employees happy customers!!!
I just read it Danny, I treat my employees like my own kids. I sponsored one of my employees wife from India and took the responsibility for five years. If our employee get sick we take them to hospital even if we have to close our restaurant. If employees are happy they will make good food and keep the restaurant clean. That’s the only reason people love to come to my restaurant. Happy employees happy customers!!!
Exactly!!!!
Exactly!!!!
This Danny person Poonam Sharma Parashar. wrote the same comment on somebody else’s remark about a different restaurant as well.
This Danny person Poonam Sharma Parashar. wrote the same comment on somebody else’s remark about a different restaurant as well.
I just saw that Andrea Lewis Polak
I just saw that Andrea Lewis Polak
Never tried Tandoori grill or Parashar’s. I think the story shows the evil that hides under our noses. I love Karma across the street from Tandoori. Always good service.
My husband and I have been to Karma twice since they opened and never wanted to go back. Although I admit I love the atmosphere there, I feel that the taste of their food pales in comparison to yes Tandoori Grill and especially to Parashar’s.
Poonam is a class act!!
Yes she is…without a doubt!!
Being raised around authentic Indian cuisine for a majority of my life, Karma is the only one that has come close to the home cooking I was raised with. When you walk in to a place and the people ethnic cuisine place and it is filled with people of that culture, you know it is authentic and good. Can’t knock places I haven’t tried, but I can tell you the food at Karma is authentic.
Lol. My mom and my aunt used to say the same thing about the ethnicity of the customers that would be in a Chinese restaurant and would say, ” Well you know it’s got to be good when we’re the only Caucasian people in here.”
Sounds like a smart lady.
She was.
Gonna try your spot next time.
Andrea Andrea Lewis Polak and Eric Holloway this mean allot to me, love you guys!!!
Danny, do you make offensive comments in jest when the demographics are… closer to your own? -_-
Lorena Gonzalez
Christi Roehn-Leonardi. Wtf!?
Wow how sad. I will never go there ever!
Tanya Terzian Raffi Atamian :)
Apu Minhaz
Jason Tabak
Eeewww just horrible!!!
That’s really sad!
Beth another to add on to the list of places to avoid in SCV haha so random
Mayra Montes It was! hahaha
Laura Oswald Dangelo
Mira Juancarlos Razo!!!…
It is important for us all to realize that slavery is in our own backyard. This is a good eye-opener thank you for posting.
Nope, not it our back yard after all.
Good thing me and my hubby go to Karma! This is just bleh!
Marla Turnbull
Jaclyn Michelle Gibbs
Omg! I think i ate there one time! Lol is that next to where the bakery used 2 be?
Yep, rite there. Lol
Yep, rite there. Lol
Then i have been there lol a long long time ago
Daniel Palmer is this the place you get your Indian food from?
Anthony Sherman Tim Shannon wtf
WOW! NO WAY!
What in the world? Insane!
Good. Lock him up and throw away the key.
Lock him up and throw away the key?
Melanie !!!!
I met this owner 20 years ago and thought he was a scumbag then, this just proves it !
Think it changed owners in that time, but I could be wrong.
Think it changed owners in that time, but I could be wrong.
Think it changed owners in that time, but I could be wrong.
Where is this place exactly?
Across the street from Mercedes Benz of Valencia
Across the street from Mercedes Benz of Valencia
Sharon Paiz
Can never condemn human trafficking – that sucks!
People tikka Missala… Lmao I know it’s a lame joke but made me laugh!
Rina Esther Batres-Prieto. Told you it was a bad place
I’m not sure if I got a better shake working under 17 managers in 20 years that could’nt do my job, a psychotic HR Dept that was out of touch with the reality of the business we were in (Healthcare), and the 2% annual raises (“…at least you got one.”) with none of the cost of living raises that the other dept’s recieved.
Goodness. :-(
Wow!!
Wow!
Gregg Foster
Unbelievable!
Brittney Chalet
Hahaha I just tagged Mel in this. We love that place.
Tony Manzanares
Andrew Miller Danielle Dixon Georgia Druliner Mitch H. Teague Michael Hamilton this is insane!
Chris Druliner Marni Vanacore Danielle Druliner
Chris Druliner Marni Vanacore Danielle Druliner
Well damn..
Well damn..
Chris Rivera Johnny Rivera Vince Rivera
Renae Storm Kirby did you see this? :(
Nandinee Rajyagor
The cook was a drunk idiot. I don’t believe this is completely true
Their food is really good
That’s unthinkable! Now I’m REALLY happy we always supported Karma (the Indian restaurant right around the corner) instead of this place
Bwahahahaha! I always knew that place was up to no good
Are you serious?! Wow!
Juanita Mera
Ed Alva and R Alva Rez
Ed Alva and R Alva Rez
That sucks but damn that Tandori Chicken is Bomb.
Wow! Crazy crap
How terrible. Glad he was arrested. I pray for the poor cook.
How terrible. Glad he was arrested. I pray for the poor cook.
How terrible. Glad he was arrested. I pray for the poor cook.
I am so sad for this man…So so so awful, right here in our own town
I am so sad for this man…So so so awful, right here in our own town
Emily Stanzione
Emily Stanzione
Sal
Sal
Oh no not in santa clarita!
Oh no not in santa clarita!
Lisa Korn Eichman …..
Lisa Korn Eichman …..
That is disgusting! I hope the owner gets the worst penalty possible!
That is disgusting! I hope the owner gets the worst penalty possible!
Wow, I’m glad he didn’t get the worst thing possible and the justice system was able to work the way it is supposed to.
Wow, I’m glad he didn’t get the worst thing possible and the justice system was able to work the way it is supposed to.
Gary
Gary
The real deal for Indian food is Royal Tandoor across from TJs on Bouquet Canyon. $8.95 all you can eat lunch buffet for $8.95, 7 days a week. Their food is awesome!
The real deal for Indian food is Royal Tandoor across from TJs on Bouquet Canyon. $8.95 all you can eat lunch buffet for $8.95, 7 days a week. Their food is awesome!
The real deal for Indian food is Royal Tandoor across from TJs on Bouquet Canyon. $8.95 all you can eat lunch buffet for $8.95, 7 days a week. Their food is awesome!
Do they have any slaves there? Maybe you should ask.
This Danny is a disturbed individual as he wrote the same thing when I said how awesome Parashars’s Indian Kitchen is and that we have been going only there once they opened and never set foot again into Tandoori Grill.
By the way, once Parashars’ Indian Kitchen opened we never went back to tandoori Grill.
The real deal for Indian food is Royal Tandoor across from TJs on Bouquet Canyon. $8.95 all you can eat lunch buffet for $8.95, 7 days a week. Their food is awesome!
Do they have any slaves there? Maybe you should ask.
This Danny is a disturbed individual as he wrote the same thing when I said how awesome Parashars’s Indian Kitchen is and that we have been going only there once they opened and never set foot again into Tandoori Grill.
By the way, once Parashars’ Indian Kitchen opened we never went back to tandoori Grill.
Check out Royal Tandoor. There are always Indian customers. The food is so authentic. They are relatively new and its a classy restaurant.
Check out Royal Tandoor. There are always Indian customers. The food is so authentic. They are relatively new and its a classy restaurant.
It is amazing to me that this exist all around us. Modern day slavery. I really like this place too, but won’t be back.
It is amazing to me that this exist all around us. Modern day slavery. I really like this place too, but won’t be back.
Unbelievable! Pure Scum!
Unbelievable! Pure Scum!
Awesome Town!
Awesome Town!
Parashars Indian kitchen is my Togo place for Indian food. Karma is good too, but I mostly go foe their lunch buffet.
Parashars Indian kitchen is my Togo place for Indian food. Karma is good too, but I mostly go foe their lunch buffet.
Crystal Wallasch-Campbell
Crystal Wallasch-Campbell
Glad I never ate there.
Glad I never ate there.
Wow. Just shows you that it is right under our noses. Kudos to the person that brought this to the police’s attention!
Wow. Just shows you that it is right under our noses. Kudos to the person that brought this to the police’s attention!
Leslie Puckett don’t you love this place
Leslie Puckett don’t you love this place
No way!!! I Love Royal Tandoor :)
No way!!! I Love Royal Tandoor :)
Vernon Peñaloza
Vernon Peñaloza
I go there all the time…..will never go there again though. I wonder where the cook is now….I hope that he is not homeless.
So will you go back now?
Not if the money that I pay goes to that rotten bastard! I liked the food, so if the same cook was cooking and the profits went to him, yes. But I doubt that is going to happen….or did I miss some newsflash where that owner turned the business over to the cook?
Not if the money that I pay goes to that rotten bastard! I liked the food, so if the same cook was cooking and the profits went to him, yes. But I doubt that is going to happen….or did I miss some newsflash where that owner turned the business over to the cook?
I go there all the time…..will never go there again though. I wonder where the cook is now….I hope that he is not homeless.
Denise Alfaro
Denise Alfaro
Boycott!
Boycott!
Delicious!!!!!
Delicious!!!!!
Joseph Pierce
Joseph Pierce
What do you think the massage parlors around here are?? Same thing I bet.
What do you think the massage parlors around here are?? Same thing I bet.
Ajay Dhawan Omgee!
Ajay Dhawan Omgee!
This makes me sick. Seriously sick.
This makes me sick. Seriously sick.
What a scumbag! I hope he rots in hell
Kayla Newman, did u guys eat here?
No thank goodness we ate at the Pho place near it though and at Mr. Sushi… crazy this is right next to us though
Wow I’m shocked by this as this is one of our favorite places to have dinner. The whole ambience is great and everyone seems so happy. I have met this man several times. I will not confirm anything until I dig a bit to confirm the info. Thanks Linny Martin for the share.
Sharing this and boycotting too
Still going to boycott them?
Geezuz, this is such a sad shame.
Heads would roll if ya knew how many stores/shops are fronts for all kinds of illegal activity in this valley.
Burn it down
Hermy Bastian
Johnny Valle
Forrest Woolman check this out. I have to say the food was good but the energy was strange in that place. So sad…now we know why.
Lorena Lemus Edwin Lemus Elmer J Lemus Melqui Lemus you gotta read this! Whaaaaaa?!? Sad.
Caleb Lankford is this the Chinese place we go to?
Suyapa Funez is this the one in front of Home Depot?
That guy looks like a creep. This is why I only eat Indian Food in the SCV @ at Parshars Kitchen. Garlic nan and butter chicken is amazing and the owner is the nicest lady ever.
Raelyn
Amy Kim did we ever eat here!?
What a terrible way to be forced to live. My heart goes out to anybody in that situation.
BUT, we need to consider there’s a chance the accusations made against the restaurant owner are FALSE. (I hope they are, actually).
There is a reason I am saying this, and it’s based upon an assumption that the accuser is not a US citizen. I’m NOT trying to suggest non-citizens are liars or anything like that, so please don’t misunderstand me. It is the situation at hand that reminds me of a huge problem we have in this country.
We have all heard about Greencard marriages or “Sham Marriages” by now, right? Sometimes, the US citizen wises up to the scammer’s plan and ends the marriage altogether. This puts the foreigner’s status here in the US in jeopardy and they usually must go home. Many stay against orders and find another way to scam their way into legal residency.
When these scammers are left without their citizen spouse to cling to, they often move to a plan B. This includes either accusing the citizen spouse (or former spouse) of abuse. (VAWA needs to go.) When this is not a viable option, they WILL move on and even consider their employer as a way to get that coveted residency.
Maybe the accuser is only trying to be able to stay in the USA. Maybe he lived at the owner’s house for free and worked in return for room and board. Maybe he is lying and saying the restaurant owner abused him and “made” him live with him when the owner was just being a kind person trying to help the employee. THIS HAPPENS A LOT…TRUST ME.
So, is the restaurant owner a bad person who really did these things to the poor employee? Or, is he a decent man who has fallen prey to a dishonest scammer? Who really knows!?
I think it’s best to hold judgement until we know more about this case. The moral deficit of so many people these days is shocking. So, either one of them might be the guilty party. I wish we had more information to look at though.
What a terrible way to be forced to live. My heart goes out to anybody in that situation.
BUT, we need to consider there’s a chance the accusations made against the restaurant owner are FALSE. (I hope they are, actually).
There is a reason I am saying this, and it’s based upon an assumption that the accuser is not a US citizen. I’m NOT trying to suggest non-citizens are liars or anything like that, so please don’t misunderstand me. It is the situation at hand that reminds me of a huge problem we have in this country.
We have all heard about Greencard marriages or “Sham Marriages” by now, right? Sometimes, the US citizen wises up to the scammer’s plan and ends the marriage altogether. This puts the foreigner’s status here in the US in jeopardy and they usually must go home. Many stay against orders and find another way to scam their way into legal residency.
When these scammers are left without their citizen spouse to cling to, they often move to a plan B. This includes either accusing the citizen spouse (or former spouse) of abuse. (VAWA needs to go.) When this is not a viable option, they WILL move on and even consider their employer as a way to get that coveted residency.
Maybe the accuser is only trying to be able to stay in the USA. Maybe he lived at the owner’s house for free and worked in return for room and board. Maybe he is lying and saying the restaurant owner abused him and “made” him live with him when the owner was just being a kind person trying to help the employee. THIS HAPPENS A LOT…TRUST ME.
So, is the restaurant owner a bad person who really did these things to the poor employee? Or, is he a decent man who has fallen prey to a dishonest scammer? Who really knows!?
I think it’s best to hold judgement until we know more about this case. The moral deficit of so many people these days is shocking. So, either one of them might be the guilty party. I wish we had more information to look at though.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
yikes!
Wake up beautiful Santa Clarita people….stuff happens in our area from Westridge, Stevenson Ranch to Canyon Country and surrounding areas. Now is the time to pray for our kids, our city, our state and our country. Been here since 1977 & I my city! <3
I suspect the man is here illegally and this goes on more than we’d like to think. Ck out all the Vietnam nail places.
Incredibly sad
Incredibly sad
Ill still eat there, a lil slavery never hurt n-e-1
Ill still eat there, a lil slavery never hurt n-e-1
Karma is so much better.
Karma is so much better.
Scary! Get that scumbag ass and put him in prison…human trafficking involves also little boys and girls. Multi billion dollar trafficking of baby children for porn and sex slavery..find all these scumbags and throw away the key. They will be dealt with promptly in prison..I did a couple of human trafficking reports in Sociology and opened my eyes to many things we think we know, but do not…
Scary! Get that scumbag ass and put him in prison…human trafficking involves also little boys and girls. Multi billion dollar trafficking of baby children for porn and sex slavery..find all these scumbags and throw away the key. They will be dealt with promptly in prison..I did a couple of human trafficking reports in Sociology and opened my eyes to many things we think we know, but do not…
Destiny Bonilla Destiny Bonilla
Destiny Bonilla Destiny Bonilla
Destiny Bonilla Destiny Bonilla
Javier Ramirez, Denise Vanessa Ramirez, Andres Ramirez this is horrible
It came up in the news when you left.
Javier Ramirez, Denise Vanessa Ramirez, Andres Ramirez this is horrible
It came up in the news when you left.
Javier Ramirez, Denise Vanessa Ramirez, Andres Ramirez this is horrible
It came up in the news when you left.
Wow!!!
Wow!!!
Finally
Finally
I’m not surprised about this, considering the interactions I had with the workers there. Here’s another reason why people should eat at Parashars’s Indian Restaurant instead. The vibe there is much better, and you know it’s a true family restaurant.
I’m not surprised about this, considering the interactions I had with the workers there. Here’s another reason why people should eat at Parashars’s Indian Restaurant instead. The vibe there is much better, and you know it’s a true family restaurant.
Karma
Karma
Abel Contreras
Abel Contreras
Did the comment I left not show up? Mobile Facebook strikes again
Did the comment I left not show up? Mobile Facebook strikes again
Mike Garcia don’t you go here!!
Mike Garcia don’t you go here!!
Really it’s just inconvenient… now we’re going to find a new place… I mean did anyone even think about us when they arrested him??
I never liked their food anyways…
I do not Madison Stones, i keep it classy at Royal Tandoor…better food, obviously better people.
eally it’s just inconvenient… now we’re going to find a new place… I mean did anyone even think about us when they arrested him??
inate here many times over the last three years. I ate there twice a week sometimes when I was pregnant with my daughter. I often joked that I would be giving both to a lentle. Anyway, I feel awful for this man and I would like to find a way to donate to him( I don’t have a lot of money) but I would like to someway help him because I feel like I owe him something for the delicious food and that this horrible thing that happened to him I have some responsibility in. I nearly threw up reading about this. I feel horrible. I’d like to help him. Anyone else!???!!!
Kelly Erin Grey
Kelly Erin Grey
SMH…ugh
SMH…ugh
Wow, that guy must have cooked my food! I feel ill. So sad
Good help is hard to find.
I’ve had my 40th and 50th surprise party at the Tandoori grill and liked their food even better than Karma’s. Royal Tandoori is good too ( Karma’s cook is there now but MOSTLY I like to support PARASAN Indian Kitchen. The sweetest, kindest, good food place. :)
That place is fire
Meanwhile Santa Clarita kids drive intoxicated and meth use is on the rise good job
So many here already judged them as guilty. Sad