THREE staff members at a popular Indian restaurant in Oxford have been arrested for overstaying their visas.

UK Border Agency officers swooped on Chutney’s – once famously visited by former US president Bill Clinton – in St Michael’s Street at lunchtime yesterday.

Now three workers from the restaurant are awaiting deportation.

UK Border Agency spokesman Adam Edwards said: “Acting on intelligence, UK Border Agency officers visited Chutney’s restaurant at lunchtime on December 10. Three people, a 31-year-old man from Bangladesh and two men aged 23 and 20 from Pakistan, have been arrested for overstaying their visas and are currently in custody. “The UK Border Agency will seek to remove them from the UK at the earliest opportunity.

“Our officers are out almost every day in the Thames Valley carrying out operations like this, targeting those who are in the UK illegally.

“But we are also targeting those who employ illegal workers and fuel illegal immigration to the UK. That is why we have the power to hit those who are found to be employing illegal workers with heavy fines – up to £10,000 per illegal worker.”

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org

No-one at the restaurant was available for comment.