Santosh Sah has claimed that although he was arrested in a dispute over a cheque worth Rs 450,000, he was presented in a manner that was different from the facts on social media and some media outlets.
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Famous chef Santosh Sah has made his views public on Wednesday regarding the public cheque bounce case against him. Talking to reporters at the restaurant 'Mithila Thali' in Gairidhara, he alleged that even though he was arrested in a dispute regarding a cheque of Rs 450,000, he was presented in a different way on social media and some media outlets.
Sah has claimed that the transaction dispute that arose during the transaction related to the Shila restaurant he purchased has been exaggerated. According to him, the restaurant was purchased for Rs 22.5 million and he said that he took responsibility for various financial liabilities and bank loans during that period.
'I was presented as having cheated Rs 22.5 million, whereas the matter of the arrest is related to a cheque of Rs 450,000,' he said, 'My intention was never and never to not give anyone money.' According to Sah, he claimed that the seller hid some facts about the property while buying the restaurant. He said that he was not informed about the rent dispute and the outstanding payment of the restaurant building at the beginning.
He also questioned the process by which he was arrested from Janakpur and brought to Kathmandu. 'I had personally appeared at the Bhadrakali premises after receiving a call from the police. If I was a fugitive, I could have been arrested right then,' he said. 'If I had been called, I would have appeared myself. But I was arrested on Friday.'
Sah, a cardholder for non-resident Nepali citizens, expressed respect for Nepal's legal system and said that he has always followed the law. 'No one is above the law. I respect the law and will fully cooperate with the court and the legal process,' he said. Referring to a 7-second video clip that went viral on social media, Sah claimed that it did not show the reality of the entire incident. 'You cannot judge someone's character by making public only a few seconds of a 3-hour conversation,' he said.
Stating that he returned to Nepal after obtaining British citizenship and is promoting tourism, culture and Nepali food, Sah said that this incident will not discourage him. 'I will stay and work in Nepal. My campaign to introduce Nepali food and culture to the world will not stop,' he said. Stating that he is currently operating restaurants in places including Kathmandu and Biratnagar, he said that challenges in transactions and cash flow are a normal process in business. He expressed his commitment that he did not embezzle anyone's money and will resolve all financial liabilities legally.
The case is currently in court and legal process. The opinion of the other party to the dispute is yet to be made public.
