Immigration officers raided an award-winning Mitcham restaurant this week, arresting three employees – including a husband and wife.

About a dozen UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers swooped on the Chak 89 Indian restaurant and banqueting hall on Tuesday night, grilling members of staff about their right to live and work in Britain.

Officers guarded the exits to the Bond Road building as others gathered staff in its main banqueting hall and questioned them.

The raid was complicated when a man was found praying as officers entered the hall – he was allowed to finish before facing questions alongside other staff.

Those arrested included a husband and wife, aged 30 and 26 from Nepal, who were accused of staying in Britain after their visas expired – while a 28-year-old man from India was thought to be working in breach of his visa conditions.

All three – thought to live in or near Mitcham – were marched into waiting vans for further questioning, and now face possible deportation.

The raid took place at about 6pm and was carried out by UKBA’s Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth teams.

Immigration officer David Tripp, who lead the operation, said similar raids took place regularly – often using information supplied by members of the public.

He said: “We do these all the time – many of our tips do come from the public.”

Chak 89, which also provides catering for events and functions, opened in 2003. The premises was expanded in 2005 to create a 70-seat restaurant and 450-seat banqueting hall.

Last July the business won caterer of the year prize at the hungryhouse.co.uk English curry awards, picking up the award at a ceremony in Manchester.

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