Home Office calls for Indian restaurant to lose licence

The Home Office has called for an Indian restaurant in Telford to lose its premises licence after illegal workers were found there in two separate raids.

Officials said the licence holder of the Blue Elephant in Ketley, Shander Herian, "would have been aware of his responsibilities" and argued additional licence conditions or a suspension were not sufficient sanctions.

Telford and Wrekin councillors are due to meet next Thursday to decide the matter.

The restaurant has been approached by the BBC for comment.

Two immigration raids have been carried out at the Blue Elephant, one in 2020 and another in 2025, and they each led to the arrest of two illegal workers from Bangladesh.

A fine of £40,000 was handed to the restaurant following the second raid. That penalty is now the subject of an appeal.

A Home Office application to the council said: "Immigration Enforcement asks that the premises licence is revoked."

Telford and Wrekin Council's licensing department said it fully supported a licence revocation.

In a report it said: "[The restaurant has] blatant disregard for the law and carrying out the responsibilities as an employer and holding a premises licence."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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