[KHTS] – The deputy district attorney who reviewed the accusations against the owner of Tandoori Grill found “the allegations in the letter were not substantiated,” leading to the charges being dropped Thursday.

The deputy district attorney presented the accusations against the owner of Tandoori Grill found “the allegations in the letter were not substantiated, leading to the charges being dropped Thursday.

Pardeep Kumar, 47, of Newhall, was arrested Tuesday on mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, involuntary servitude and human trafficking charges. The charges were sparked by a letter sent by the alleged victim’s brother to the Indian consulate in San Francisco.

“The letter alleged the victim was a prisoner, was forced to work and that he was unable to meet people,” according to a Charging Worksheet released by the District Attorney’s Office. “The victim refutes all of these allegations in his statement.”

Sheriff’s Department officials announced their investigation from Monterey Park on Wednesday afternoon.

“Santa Clarita personnel notified the Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau, who responded with their Human Trafficking Task Force members,” according to a Nixle release. Their Federal partners, Homeland Security Investigations Bureau, also responded to assist along with a Los Angeles County District Attorney investigator, officials said.

A Nixle report from Sheriff’s Department officials stated deputies arrived at the restaurant and began an investigation, and located an employee … who claimed to “regularly worked 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week,” the report read.

A Nixle report is a media service agencies use to send out information. It’s free and anyone can sign up.

The Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau handles all commercial sex and labor related human trafficking crimes throughout the County.

However, the victim was “never restrained,” according to the District Attorney’s Office report.
The victim told prosecutors he was allowed to leave whenever possible, but he chose not to leave the suspect “because he did not want to become homeless and he needed a job for immigration-related purposes that he went to the immigration office for every Monday,” according to a D.A. report.
The alleged victim also stated he had recently visited with his sister when she was visiting Los Angeles recently.

There was no discussion of any alleged assault with his sister, and the victim was reportedly “well fed” and able to use the business’ phone when he needed to, according to the report.

There was also a mayhem accusation because Kumar was accused of hitting the victim with a knife-sharpener.

“The victim informed arriving deputies that the suspects struck him in the hand three weeks prior with a knife sharpener. … However, when re-interviewed later that same day, the victim stated that he was struck in the hand and right thumb three days prior,” the report states. “This is a material inconsistency.”

The victim then later again contradicted himself to a deputy who took the report in the victim’s language, Punjabi, according to officials.

“Consequently, there is insufficient evidence presented to file allegations,” according to the report.