Raj Rajan Mariaddan

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

The Respondent, a solicitor at John Street Solicitors LLP, was found to have dishonestly provided misleading information to a law firm (Firm A) representing the Legal Aid Agency regarding his bank accounts, income and employment status (to reduce his debt liability), and to have dishonestly provided misleading information on a Professional Indemnity Insurance renewal form to an insurance broker (Company B) concerning an ongoing SRA investigation, conditional practising certificates and prior Tribunal costs/penalty orders. He was also found to have failed to maintain valid PII and to have continued practising (including holding client money) without valid insurance. The Tribunal made express findings of dishonesty under Principle 4 for allegations 1.1 and 1.2. The only appropriate sanction was to strike him off the Roll, with costs of £30,947.64. His subsequent appeal to the High Court was dismissed.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Honesty
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Proven dishonesty
• Conduct was planned, deliberate and calculated
• Sought to blame office manager for inaccuracies on insurance renewal form
• Experienced solicitor who had appeared before the Tribunal twice previously, one matter relating to provision of inaccurate/misleading information
• High culpability, solely and directly responsible

Mitigating factors:

• No complaint from any client, firm or insurer
• Long-standing solicitor
• No previous finding of dishonesty
• Health issues and unlikely to practise again