The Home Office has cancelled fines it issued to an Indian restaurant following an immigration raid after the premise's manager proved two arrested men were asylum seekers.
Lowestoft Tandoori was raided on August 10, resulting in the arrests of two men who were unable to provide visas and passports and were believed to be working illegally.
The restaurant was initially issued a £20,000 fine for each of the two alleged workers, one Indian man and one Bangladeshi man.
However, the manager, Nasima Begum, who has been running the establishment for 11 years with her husband, managed to prove to the Home Office the men were asylum seekers.
As a result, the Home Office has confirmed that the fines against the restaurant have been dropped and the men released on bail.
Lowestoft Tandoori said that one of the men who was arrested was merely a homeless man who they feed on occasion and the other man arrested was a family member who they are housing currently.
Mrs Begum said the raid was "damaging" for business and she was keen to address the rumours after they had charges dropped by the Home Office.
READ MORE: Home Office raid Indiagate Tandoori restaurant in Beccles
She said: "We are thrilled that the charges have been dropped and our name is now cleared.
"It was really damaging, and had the potential to be damaging for our business long-term too, so now we have our name cleared we can just look forward.
"Though it was very upsetting the manner in which the raid was conducted, we were incredibly busy and they just stormed in.
"For the past 11 years, we have worked so hard to build our business and reputation.
"We do lots to help the community, and want to be a business recognised as here for the town.
"I don't want to sing our praises but we gave food out to families during the summer holidays and really do care about the town.
"So I hope now the charges are dropped the reputation I have fought so hard to establish will not be tarnished."
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The Home Office immigration officials said they conducted the raid after they received a tip-off.
Indiagate Tandoori in Beccles, just 10 miles away, was also raided by immigration enforcement on August 10.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "Illegal working causes untold harm to our communities, cheating honest workers out of employment, putting vulnerable people at risk, and defrauding the public purse.
“Illegal working visits are up by more than 50% on last year and arrests have more than doubled, with more people arrested in 2023 than during the whole of 2022 as a result of this activity.
"We are also removing those with no right to be in the UK.”
The Home Office has recently announced plans to triple civil penalty fines for employers or landlords found to be in breach of immigration laws.
On Facebook, Lowestoft Tandoori had released a statement that said: "We would like to address rumours regarding recent home office raids in Lowestoft and surrounding areas.
"While we do not know the circumstances of other restaurants, we can speak about our own.
"Our premises was visited by enforcement officers last month and did not find any illegal workers.
"We are not guilty of any criminal offences.
"Please see “No Action Notice” received.
"Immigration raids are unfortunately very common in Indian restaurants but we continue to work legally and ethically.
"All our staff work incredibly hard and we aim to provide the best for our customers.
"We would like to thank our staff for all that they do and our customers for your continued support."
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