THE former owner of an Indian restaurant in Didcot has been banned from running a company for six years.

Muhammad Nazrul Haque ran Kolkata Foods Limited from 222 Broadway from April 2014 until it was placed into voluntary liquidation in December 2016, owing £28,895.

Earlier Haque, who is 45, was fined £20,000 after an investigation by the Insolvency Service found he had failed to ensure immigration checks were completed and documents retained.

The fine was issued by the Home Office.

Haque is now banned from directly or indirectly becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company until November 2023.

Robert Clarke, an Insolvency Service senior investigator, said: “The public has a right to expect that those who break the law will face the consequences. If you fail to comply with your obligations then the Insolvency Service will investigate you.”

And a Home Office spokesman said: “Illegal working is not victimless. It undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the taxpayer.”

“Businesses should be aware that they have a duty to check that their staff have permission to work in the UK.”

“We are happy to work with employers who play by the rules but those who do not should know that they will not go under our radar.”