Mela Eatery, located in the Octagon, is applying for an on-licence for the premises.
The applicants are linked to Eleven Bar, which was shut down in July 2023 after its directors’ behaviour came under scrutiny.
Beyond allegations of drinking on the job and drug-taking on the premises, there were accusations of predatory behaviour.
A district licensing committee hearing on Mela Eatery’s application will take place tomorrow, but already the applicants face opposition from the police, the medical officer of health, the Liquor Licensing Authority and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP).
SSDP’s submission calls into question the suitability of the applicants.
"The sole director and shareholder of 3s Food Ltd, and one of the two duty managers listed on the application, being Yuba Khattri, was convicted of driving with an excess breath alcohol concentration, in the Dunedin District Court on July 21, 2023, and subsequently resulted in the suspension of her manager’s certificate on August 9.
"We believe these circumstances make Yuba Khattri unfit to be a licensee for a premises situated in this highly vulnerable locality, and furthermore one that is frequented by highly vulnerable communities."
The second manager on the application is listed as being Prakash Khattri, who was a director of Eleven 2021 Ltd.
"Eleven 2021 Ltd, the previous licensee of these premises, was declined renewal of its licence due to, in the opinion of SSDP’s membership, extreme mismanagement of its premises and an utter failure to meet the object of the [Sale and Supply of Alcohol] Act, which resulted in serious alcohol-related harm directly experienced by individuals within Dunedin’s vulnerable student and youth communities."
SSDP’s objections were echoed by alcohol prevention officer Sergeant Steve Jones.
"Anecdotal and factual evidence regards this locality as a high risk, vulnerable community in regard to alcohol harm.
"Prakash’s continued involvement in the premises, as well as Mela Eatery expanding into a new premises in this location, does cause police some concern. I do believe there is a heightened risk because of this."
Police investigations of Eleven Bar revealed a host of issues, including breaching conditions of the licence, intoxicated people at the premises, disregard of Covid regulations regarding gatherings of people and a disregard of food safety regulations.
Licensing inspector Tanya Morrison’s submission on Mela Eatery expressed worries about the way the business was operating.
"Though a condition was offered by Mrs Khattri that alcohol would only be sold with a meal, in my opinion this is not easy to monitor and abide to long-term daily in terms of trade and does little to lower any possible concerns I have around the suitability of the applicant [Mrs Khattri] or her husband, Mr Khattri.
"I am also uncertain how Mr and Mrs Khattri, as the sole duty managers, intend to operate across two [licensed] sites without additional duty managers, noting that their daughter, Susmita Khattri, currently has an application lodged and being processed by the agencies to try to gain her manager’s certificate."
The medical officer of health’s submission said neither Mr Khattri nor Mrs Khattri was suitable to hold a liquor licence or manage a licensed premises.
"Our concerns are founded on Mr Khattri’s involvement with the premises formerly located at 11 the Octagon and known as Eleven Bar, and are added to by the pending investigation that is occurring with Mr Khattri and Immigration New Zealand, and the recent charge laid on Mrs Khattri for driving with excess breath alcohol this year."
Mrs Khattri was unavailable for comment.
