Kathmandu — Famous Master Chef Santosh Sah has officially closed his restaurants 'Mithila Thali' and 'Janakpur Fish House' located in Gairidhara (Naxal), Kathmandu. Following an agreement with the landlord, he received Rs 50 lakh in compensation. According to available information, the landowner completely waived four months of rent for Sah and also paid all remaining taxes owed to the local ward office. Sources confirmed that a cheque of Rs 50 lakh was issued on behalf of the landlord to settle the accounts of Shakuntala Thapa Chhetri and Rajendra Maharjan, and the cheque has already been cashed.
Earlier on July 21, Chef Sah had formally announced the closure of the Gairidhara branch through an emotional status on his Facebook page. Stating that it is not easy to say goodbye to a place attached to beautiful memories, he thanked customers and his team for years of love and support. He informed that the Jhamsikhel branch will remain in operation, the newly opened branch in Biratnagar received good feedback, and preparations are underway to open a new outlet in Birgunj before Dashain. He added that a new location is being searched for Janakpur Fish House.
While it is claimed that the restaurant was closed after settling accounts with the landlord, serious allegations against Chef Sah regarding unfulfilled financial liabilities have not subsided. According to sources, the security guard working at the restaurant has not received wages for the past 6 months. Similarly, sources made serious claims that Sah issued three cheques worth Rs 38 lakh to clear dues owed to the Batas Group, all of which bounced.
As financial disputes and complaints reach a peak, Chef Sah has gone out of contact. According to sources, recent attempts to contact him went unanswered as he did not pick up the phone. Even more mysteriously, his private car has been left abandoned at the Gairidhara restaurant premises for the past eight to nine days. The closure of a famous brand alongside financial mismanagement, bounced cheques, unpaid employee salaries, and the operator going missing makes this incident even more suspicious.
