An Indian restaurant owner in Sidmouth feels vindicated after the Border Agency said the owner was ‘not liable’ for the four men found working there illegally.

Kazi Ahmad faced a fine of up to �40,000 when immigration officials raided the Cinnamon Tree in Radway in October.

But a UK Border Agency spokesman said: “A notice of no liability has been issued to the Cinnamon Tree and no penalty is due.”

Mr Ahmad has always claimed the paperwork for the men was in order when he took them on at his restaurant, and felt he had done nothing wrong.

He said two workers had stopped going to college, meaning they were in breach of the student visas they entered the country with, but had not told him.

But the spokesman for the Border Agency said the four men arrested as a result of their investigation are still being deported.

He said: “Two remain in Immigration Detention pending removal from the UK, and two have been removed from the country.”

Mr Ahmad said he had lost a lot of business since officers raided the premises two months ago, but wanted to assure customers the restaurant was still open as usual.