TAJ Pamodzi Hotel general manager Samrat Datta and chief executive, Hrudananda Behera, have been deported along with their families.

Sources at the hotel said Mr Datta was deported to India because his family was staying in Zambia without proper documentation.

This was despite several reminders from immigration authorities over the matter.

Mr Behera on the other hand, was also said to have been living in Zambia without proper documentation together with his family.

The two senior hotel officials and their families were, on Wednesday last week, transported from the hotel to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

When reached for a comment on Monday, Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu said he needed time to consult over the matter as he had just returned from Italy on national duty.

According to the sources, there was drama when the Immigration officers pounced on the two families.

Mr Datta was picked from his office, then to his hotel room where his wife was found and later driven to a school where their children were collected.

They were immediately driven to the airport for departure.

In the case of Mr Behera, sources said he was on duty in the kitchen dressed in the chef's attire when he was picked and driven to the airport.

The sources said some Immigration officers had on several occasions warned Mr Datta and his colleague to acquire permits for their families but could not heed the advice.