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UK Indian eateries raided, 70 arrested

Among businesses raid were those belonging to ‘Curry Queen’ Nighat Awan, dubbed a close ally of Cherie Blair and Jack Straw.

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LONDON: Seventy people have been arrested in late night raids on Indian restaurants as part of a major investigation into an alleged illegal immigrant employment racket.

Among the businesses raid by the Police and Immigration Service were those belonging to Nighat Awan, a British Pakistani who runs a successful chain of restaurants called Shere Khan and who is said to be friends with Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie.

Awan, dubbed ‘Curry Queen’, has built up a fortune of £35 million and is a close ally of former foreign secretary Jack Straw.

She is a friend of Cheire Blair and has thrown garden parties for the first family at her home. She has been decorated with an OBE for her export and overseas charity work and last year was appointed head of a Department Trade and Industry-backed group to support black and ethnic minority businesses.

Police officers carried out simultaneous raid across the country as well as storming the Awan family £3.5 million mansion in Cheshire and spoke to Awan as they searched the premises.

Neighbours told one newspaper they saw documents and computer equipment being taking away. Awan’s husband Rafique was out of the country.

The first Shere Khan restaurant was set up by Awan’s 65-year-old husband in Manchester’s famous curry mile on Wilmslow Road in 1987.

Since then Awan and his 51-year-old wife have expanded the business to a string of ten Shere Khan restaurants all over the country. Their restaurants in Liverpool, Manchester, Cheshire, Sheffield and Kent were all raided on Friday night.

Awan, one of Britain’s richest businesswomen, has in recent years made Shere Khan a global brand by opening restaurants in Dubai and Japan, and expanded into the production of ready-made curry sauces and other Indian food for supermarkets.

The Awans’ company is now worth £300 million.

“We understand there is an ongoing inquiry into the employment and immigration status of a number of employees,” said the firm’s solicitor Michael Kenyon, who added that his clients were co-operating with the police.

“No member of the management team has been arrested or interviewed by the authorities,” said Kenyon.

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