SRA finds dishonesty against Mohammed Ekramul Hoque Mazumder; Naser Khan fined, Salauddin cleared.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has issued starkly different outcomes against three men accused of breaching professional rules, with Mohammed Ekramul Hoque Mazumder struck off the roll of solicitors, Naser Khan fined, and Salauddin Khan escaping with no order.
The case, brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), centred on allegations of dishonesty, breaches of the Code of Conduct 2011, and violations of the SRA Principles 2011.
Mr Mazumder admitted to one allegation at the outset — allegation 1.1 — but denied the remainder. The Tribunal found that his admission was correctly made and went further, concluding that allegations 1.2.1, 1.2.4, 1.2.5 and 1.3.3 were also proved on the evidence. Crucially, the Tribunal determined that Mazumder’s conduct was dishonest. Other charges, including allegations 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.3.1 and 1.3.2, were not proved.
As a result of the dishonesty findings, the Tribunal ordered that Mazumder be struck off the roll of solicitors, the most severe sanction available. Striking off is reserved for misconduct deemed incompatible with remaining in the profession.
Naser Khan, by contrast, denied every allegation he faced but was found liable on all counts. The Tribunal ruled that his breaches were proven and imposed a financial penalty. The specific level of the fine was not disclosed in the ruling summary, but the decision underlined the seriousness with which the panel viewed his conduct.
Embed from Getty ImagesSalauddin Khan, the third respondent, also contested the allegations. The Tribunal dismissed two of them outright — allegations 5.1.1 and 5.2 — but upheld allegation 5.1.2. However, the panel stopped short of branding his behaviour dishonest or lacking integrity. Instead, it decided no sanction was necessary in his case, sparing him from penalties.
The mixed outcomes highlight the Tribunal’s case-by-case approach to disciplinary hearings, weighing both the evidence and the seriousness of proven breaches. For Mazumder, the dishonesty finding meant there was little prospect of leniency, while for Salauddin Khan the absence of dishonesty or integrity issues persuaded the Tribunal not to impose any order.
Dishonesty remains one of the gravest charges in solicitor discipline, often resulting in automatic striking off, given the central role of trust in the legal profession. The Tribunal reaffirmed this principle in its ruling, stressing that Mazumder’s behaviour breached the ethical core of practice.
For Naser Khan, a financial penalty serves as both punishment and deterrent, although the Tribunal’s reasoning for opting against suspension or striking off has not yet been published in full.
The case is part of the SRA’s broader mandate to uphold standards and maintain public trust in the profession. Regulators have repeatedly warned that misconduct, particularly involving dishonesty or integrity failures, will be pursued vigorously.
While Salauddin Khan leaves the process without sanction, the reputational consequences of appearing before the Tribunal may yet linger. For Mazumder, the ruling ends his legal career, while for Naser Khan the fine marks a significant professional stain.
The decision underscores the varying consequences solicitors and related professionals can face when misconduct allegations are proved — ranging from financial penalties to permanent removal from practice.