But the people behind the eatery say they have "nothing to do" with their relative’s former business operation.
The Dunedin District Licensing Committee yesterday heard arguments for and against an on-licence application for Mela Eatery, a restaurant on the ground floor at 11 The Octagon in Dunedin.
The suitability of the applicant and sole shareholder of Mela, Yuba Khattri, who was convicted of drink-driving in July last year, resulting in her manager’s certificate being suspended for 28 days, was the subject of some discussion at the hearing — as was her husband.
Prakash Khattri ran, with others, Eleven Bar, which previously occupied the same premises.
That bar was ordered to close "effective immediately" in July last year, after reports ranging from breaches of Covid-19 guidelines and alcohol licensing laws to incidents of teenage women being locked in rooms with older men.
Police, the medical officer of health and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Otepoti all told the committee they doubted Mrs Khattri was suitable to hold a liquor licence.
Alcohol licensing inspector Tanya Morrison agreed, though she noted Mr Khattri did still hold a current manager’s certificate.
Two of the other listed duty managers for Mela also worked at another restaurant, Mornington Thai, which was connected to another former director of Eleven Bar, Naveen Malhotra, she said.
The committee should note the "very obvious connection" between the two Eleven Bar directors, despite Mr Khattri’s intended role as a chef at Mela Eatery.
"I would like to take him on good faith that he will remain in the kitchen as a chef, but the fact that he has a current manager’s certificate — I believe if push came to shove, if some emergency arose, that he potentially could step in," she said.
"I don’t think you can ignore or expect that Prakash will be silent on all business matters. I don’t think that will happen."
After visiting the premises and citing email correspondence with Mrs Khattri, she believed the applicant had a "complete lack of understanding" of the sufficient systems, training and staff knowledge required to hold a licence, Ms Morrison said.
Mrs Khattri appeared at the hearing from Portugal via an audiovisual link, but her 21-year-old daughter Susmita Khattri spoke on her behalf in person.
Ms Khattri said the business had "nothing to do" with Eleven Bar.
Because they could not sell alcohol at Mela, potential customers were turning away and they had even lost event bookings.
"What they want on sunny day is a curry with an alcoholic beverage sitting outside, because it is the Octagon," she said.
Alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Steve Jones, of Dunedin, said the community that frequented the Octagon was "the most high-risk and vulnerable community in the region" when it came to alcohol-related harm.
Sgt Jones said it was unfair and indicated a lack of suitability, despite location issues, for Mrs Khattri to "put it upon her 21-year-old daughter ... summoned through no fault of her own" to represent the restaurant at the hearing.
In his closing remarks, counsel for the applicant Werner Van Harselaar said it was wrong for Ms Morrison to draw a connection between Mr Khattri and Mr Malhotra through the two would-be Mela Eatery managers.
"Trying to draw them together is, I think, inappropriate."
Everything was separate from a legal perspective and there was no real connection in terms what happened in the past, he said.
Granting Mela Eatery a liquor licence would benefit the greater good in the Octagon, otherwise the premises could be used by another vendor as a fully fledged bar.
Committee chairman Colin Weatherall said it would announce a decision in due course.
Prakash Khattri is currently facing 12 charges for breaching employment laws, due to his involvement in two India Garden establishments in Dunedin and Cromwell, last year.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment and a fine of $100,000.
