KATHMANDU, June 13: Internationally renowned Nepali chef Santosh Kumar Shah has been arrested on charges of banking offence and fraud in connection with a restaurant purchase case.
A team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office (KVCIO) arrested Shah on Friday night from Ramanand Chowk in Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City-8, Dhanusha. He has been taken to the District Police Range, Kathmandu in Bhadrakali.
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Shah has been accused of banking fraud and cheating related to the purchase of a restaurant in Gairidhara. According to SSP Santosh Khatri of the KVCIO, the Kathmandu District Court had issued an arrest warrant in a case filed by Sakuntala Adhikari (Thapa), with the Government of Nepal as the plaintiff and Shah as one of the defendants.
Following court approval, police arrested the 41-year-old chef from Janakpur after he had been on the run. He is set to be presented before the court on Monday, as Saturday and Sunday are public holidays.
Police also arrested another individual in connection with the same case. The arrested person has been identified as 58-year-old Narayan Sah Sudi of Karjanha Municipality-9, Siraha.
Born in Karjanha, Siraha, Shah rose to international prominence for promoting Nepali cuisine on the global stage. He was the runner-up in BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals in 2020 and went on to win MasterChef: The Professionals Rematch in 2021, earning widespread recognition.
