Mulkh Raj Mehta

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

Mulkh Raj Mehta, admitted 1992 and indefinitely suspended since April 2002, undertook conveyancing work covering for a sole practitioner (Mr Momi) during his holiday without Law Society consent. He acted deceitfully, introducing himself under a false name and giving misleading statements to the Law Society's Forensic Investigation Officer, and failed to respond to Law Society correspondence. The Tribunal found all allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor substantiated. Given his disciplinary history and the seriousness of the matters, he was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay fixed costs of £6,821.81. The Respondent did not appear.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Honesty
• No acting against a former client
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberately ignored restrictions he clearly understood (he was employed elsewhere under strict Law Society conditions)
• Prior disciplinary history including indefinite suspension (2002) and a fine (1996)
• Caused another solicitor to be in breach of the Solicitors Act
• Gave false name and misleading information to Forensic Investigation Officer