A TAKEAWAY boss from Trafford who made more than £50,000-worth of dubious claims through coronavirus support schemes has been banned from running businesses for several years.

Ifraz Nabi was the director of New York Krispy Fried Chicken in Levenshulme until it went into liquidation in November 2020.

The demise of the takeaway on Stockport Road led to an investigation by the Insolvency Service, which discovered Nabi claimed a total of £54,100.66 between June 2020 and October 2020.

Some £23,711.74 of it came through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and £30,388.92 of it came through Eat Out to Help Out.

But Nabi, whose last known address was in Hale, was unable to back up the dubious claims due to insufficient accounts and records.

Even if the director was able to back up what was claimed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which allowed for furloughed workers to be paid while businesses were closed, New York Krispy Fried Chicken was not eligible for what was claimed through Eat Out to Help Out, as it was for restaurants with indoor seats.

The takeaway had a few indoor seats, but most of its orders came through apps, which were excluded from coronavirus support schemes.

To make matters worse, New York Krispy Fried Chicken was not registered for VAT and liquidators in November 2020 were unable to assess how much it owed as a result.

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accepted a disqualification for Nabi, who has been banned from running businesses for seven years from the end of last month.

On the outcome, Nina Cassar, the Insolvency Service's Deputy Head of Investigations, said: "One of the main purposes of the Company Director’s Disqualification Act is to ensure company directors adhere to minimum standards.

"Ifraz Nabi failed not only to maintain the accounting records of his company, he failed to register and pay his business taxes, and furthermore abused coronavirus support schemes designed to support businesses in genuine need.

"This disqualification should serve as a reminder the Insolvency Service will take action against those who abuse their position and do not take their obligations seriously."