Popular Indian restaurant in Northampton has alcohol licence revoked after employing illegal workers

The Star of India in Abington Avenue was called before Northampton Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee yesterday following an inspection of the restaurant on March 24 by police and immigration officers.

The team arrested two “Bangladeshi internationals” for being in the UK illegally and could impose fines of up to £30,000 on the business.

Yesterday, the committee revoked the Star of India’s alcohol licence after advice from Northamptonshire police.

As well as employing the two illegal workers, the restaurant was found to have served alcohol to a customer waiting for a takeaway order, when their licence only permitted diners to order drinks.

It also failed a subsequent undercover test purchase by police.

Licensing officer PC Chris Stevens said: “This is a clear statement of the severity in which the borough council and Northamptonshire Police view illegal working.

“It takes money out of the local economy and we often see such workers not paid the minimum wage.

“This is a clear message this will not be tolerated.”

Owner Bodrol Islam has 21 days to appeal the licensing decision and is permitted to serve alcohol in that three-week period.

He said he is appealing the immigration fines, claiming he was provided with fake passports by the two employees he believed were legitimate.

On the removal of the licence, he said: “We are just seeking legal advice at the moment, so we don’t know whether we will appeal it yet.”

Star of India first opened in 1964 and received an eight out of 10 in the Chron’s last review of the curry house in 2014.