New twist in saga of Lincolnshire shop owner with 'long history of non-compliance'
Moves to block changes at a Lincolnshire shop whose owner reportedly has a “long history of non-compliance” are ongoing by police.
Arumugam Kalamohan owns 52 shops across the county, and has been found employing illegal workers in at least three of them.
Lincolnshire Police say he is frequently ignoring the law, and want to prevent the licence of one problematic shop being transferred to a new premises supervisor.
Today’s Extra on Horsemarket in Caistor lost its alcohol licence in October 2025 after police said they had repeatedly found someone who wasn’t allowed to work in the UK.
The man told officers that he was paid £6 an hour – less than half the minimum wage – although he later retracted this.
The latest application would transfer the premises supervisor to Nanthakumar Murukan, who it claims has no prior connection with the business.
However, Lincolnshire Police believe this move is a “tactic to divert attention away from Mr Kalamohan”.
The force’s objection notes Mr Murukan’s address is given as next door to another Today’s shop run by the current owner, which also had its licence revoked last year.
West Lindsey District Council had been due to hold a hearing on the licence change on Monday (June 1), but this was postponed due to an interpreter being unavailable.
Sergeant Amy Adams, of Lincolnshire Police’s licensing team, told a previous hearing: “We feel there is a total disregard for the law, and [Mr Kalamohan] continues to employ illegal workers.”
She said Mr Kalamohan had a “long history of non-compliance,” with illegal workers found at his Grantham shop in 2018 and Stamford in 2020.
Police said the shop also didn’t meet the licensing requirements for maintaining CCTV or training staff.
West Lindsey’s licensing committee voted to revoke the licence for the Caistor shop, which Mr Kalamohan has appealed.
Councillor Jim Smee said: “The issues are serious, repetitive and cause significant concern. Despite the police trying to work with the licence holder, the issues have continued, not been rectified.”
Ben Williams, representing Mr Kalamohan, told the hearing: “He is extremely experienced, and accepts he should have known better”, but added: “You can’t get compliance perfect across 52 shops.”