Celebrity chef Santosh Shah, who was arrested in a banking offence case, has been released after depositing bail equivalent to the amount claimed in the case.

According to Superintendent of Police Pawan Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Police Range, Shah was released on a recognisance bond after furnishing the required bail.

“He has been released after depositing bail equal to the claimed amount. The investigation is ongoing, and he is required to appear whenever summoned,” Bhattarai said.

Police had arrested Shah on Friday from Ramananda Chowk in ward 8 of Janakpurdham Sub-metropolitan City, Dhanusha, after obtaining the Kathmandu District Court’s permission to arrest him.

Alongside Shah, 58-year-old Narayan Sah Sudi of ward 9 of Karjanha Municipality in Siraha was also arrested. He was also released.

The case was filed by Shakuntala Adhikari (Thapa), who alleged that Shah failed to make full payment while purchasing a restaurant in Gairidhara, Kathmandu. Following the complaint, the Kathmandu District Court allowed police to arrest both men, who were subsequently brought to Kathmandu for investigation.

Shah is one of Nepal’s best-known chefs and is credited with helping introduce Nepali cuisine to a global audience. He rose to international prominence after reaching the final of the BBC television programme “MasterChef: The Professionals” in 2020, where his performances drew widespread attention in Nepal and abroad.