German Bakery contractor to part ways with owners

Pune, Feb 13 (PTI) The Nepali contractor of the GermanBakery, who claims to have brought popularity to it, isparting ways with the owners after a two-decade long stintover sharing of the compensation received from the stategovernment following the bomb blast at the eatery last year.

Ramgopal Karkee sounded bitter when he said that a partof the Rs 14 lakh compensation awarded by Maharashtragovernment to the Kharose family, owners of the eaterypremises, should have been given to him as he was the one whoran the German Bakery giving rent to them.

"I have been associated with the German Bakery since 1988along with my German partner Mr Caluss (who later left)turning it into a brand with foreigners and locals in the citywith certain specially-made snacks. We ran the place oncontract basis furnishing it and employing about 22 workersfrom Nepal," he told PTI.

But, Ramgopal claimed, his request for sharing thecompensation in order to enable him to start from the scratchwith new staff and furniture was turned down by the owners.

"I am now thinking of starting my own ''German Bakery'' inthe city maintaining its original ambiance and flavour," headded.

The Kharose family are to open their newly-builtestablishment at the blast-affected site in the plush KoregaonPark area for customers in a month''s time.

A blast rocked the popular eatery exactly a year ago,killing 17 people, including four foreigners, and injuringover 50.