Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested the owner of the Tandoori Grill on Valencia Boulevard on suspicion of a number of charges, including human trafficking and involuntary servitude. Pardeep Kumar, a resident of Santa Clarita was taken into custody after responding to the restaurant yesterday after receiving a tip. An employee, who was not identified, told deputies that they had been forced to work as a cook at the restaurant for three years, working 12-14 hour shifts, and was confined to living with the owner in his Newhall home, being shuttled back and forth by Kumar.

In addition to human trafficking and involuntary servitude, Kumar was also charged with mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon.

Kumar remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow.

Updated 4:15pm: Sheriff’s Deputies have revealed that the tip came via an email from the victim’s brother, sent to the LASD’s website from Mumbai, India.

Updated 3/26/15 @ 2:30pm: KHTS is reporting that Kumar was released without any charges being filed against him at this time due to a lack of evidence.