Palatine accuses Indian restaurant of allowing illegal activity
Failure to take precautions to prevent illegal drug sales on the premises and offering live entertainment without a permit are among a new round of accusations leveled by the village of Palatine against an Indian restaurant.
India Bhawan, 1280 E. Dundee Road, faces the allegations as part of a move by the village to consider revocation or nonrenewal of its business license, or other potential sanctions. A public hearing on the accusations had been set to start Wednesday, but attorneys for the village and restaurant agreed to continue the matter to Nov. 15.
It's the second time since May that the village has had an issue with India Bhawan.
Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen ordered the restaurant closed for a week in May as a result of code violations concerning food safety and other problems. It was allowed to reopen after submitting a plan addressing the issues.
The new set of accusations occurred between June and August, according to a Sept. 19 village document.
In addition, the village claims the Indian eatery has improperly allowed an unlicensed Mexican restaurant to operate within its space.
There also have been fights and instances of disorderly conduct at India Bhawan, the village contends.
Village officials said the allegations are based on evidence collected by health inspectors, police and others.
Patrick Callihan, an attorney representing India Bhawan in the latest matter, said the restaurant remains open. India Bhawan resolved the food safety problems Palatine cited in the first case and will work to address the new allegations, such as possibly seeking a special-use permit for the live music, he said.
"We'll try to get everything OK," Callihan said.
India Bhawan will get to present testimony to refute the accusations at the public hearing in November. Ottesen is serving as hearing officer in the case.
Palatine village council members granted approval in late 2015 for India Bhawan to operate in a Dundee Road strip mall space previously occupied by Rossini de Lucca. The restaurant seats 196 customers.