London, May 31: A former restaurant boss – whose “fusion” Scots-Indian cuisine has been a part of many minister’s parties – has been banned from running any food business for six months after he was caught with mouse droppings in his Edinburgh premises.

Herman Rodrigues was credited with dishes such as haggis pakora at Edinburgh eateries ‘Suruchi’ and ‘Suruchi Too’.

Last November, health secretary Nicola Sturgeon used Suruchi, in Nicholson Street, to launch the St Andrew's Day Food Festival.

On May 30 the 47-year-old Rodrigues claimed that he was no longer involved with Suruchi and Suruchi Too and was considering an appeal against the ban, imposed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

In 2006, council officials noted mice droppings found among customer glasses, bags of food gnawed open and water from a burst waste pipe all over the floor. And when they checked records, they saw staff had not been trained to deal with hazards arising in the restaurant.

Rodrigues and his company ‘Indi Foods Ltd’ had already been fined 1,800 pounds for similar offences at Suruchi Too.

On May 30 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Rodrigues pleaded guilty to another set of health and safety breaches. The director has now been banned from running any restaurant until the court permits.

"Thanks to the vigilance and hard work shown by our community safety staff in bringing this case to court, we can send out a clear message to all food business operators,” The Scotsman quoted Robert Aldridge, the city council environment convener, as saying. (ANI)