Illegal afterhours club prompts Columbus to seek nuisance landlord declaration against owners

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An illegal afterhours club in the Hilltop is among the Columbus properties operated by two landlords now facing a lawsuit from the city.

Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein announced the action on Wednesday, seeking to declare Vikas Dadlani and Sadna Hingorani as nuisance landlords.

Court documents state the club, in the 1800 block of Sullivant Avenue, “often sees large crowds, fights, alleged drug use, numerous noise complaints from neighbors, threatened gun violence, and a sexual assault.” The club also violated state liquor laws, zoning clearances and fire code inspections.

Dadlani and Hingorani's properties have been the subject of narcotics-related police surveillance.

The court is being asked to shut down the afterhours club, as well as close the upper floor of a rental property not zoned for renting or up to code.

Columbus police have surveilled the pair's properties for evidence of drug use and sales. Those located in the 400 block of Columbian Avenue, the 1800 block of Sullivant Avenue, the 200 block of South Highland Avenue and the 400 block of Clarendon Avenue have all been suspected and surveilled for narcotics-related activity.

The landlords are owners of "several" units that are risks to public safety, Klein said in a news release. The landlords "refuse to take any meaningful action to abate nuisance activity, improve living conditions for tenants, and improve public safety."

The properties are also subject to multiple code and safety violations, including "unsafe and unsanitary conditions, steps in disrepair, exposed electrical wiring, the use of gas generators to power units, rotting window sills, rodent infestations, and extensive damage to the exterior of several properties."

Dadlani and Hingorani own eight other properties, most of which are in the Hilltop neighborhood.

A preliminary injunction hearing is set for Nov. 5.