On 7 October 2022, the Disciplinary Tribunal Panel considered an application from Mr Varun Bhatt (the applicant) for re-admission for membership.
On 22 January 2019, the applicant was expelled from the IFoA and not permitted to apply for re-admission until two years had elapsed. On 9 June 2022, that period having expired, he made application for re-admission to membership of the IFoA.
The panel considered all relevant factors, including the circumstances of the applicant, the applicant’s behaviour since expulsion, the steps that the applicant had taken to keep up to date with professional standards and practice, the nature of any professional opportunities open to the applicant and whether, if re-admitted, the applicant could be expected to uphold the standards expected of a member.
Having done so, the panel was satisfied that an informed member of the public would recognise both the impact of the heavy sanction previously imposed and the significant efforts the applicant had made to remediate his misconduct. The panel similarly concluded that re-admitting the applicant would not undermine the maintenance of proper standards: he had been deprived of membership for the period that the original panel considered appropriate and had successfully completed a rigorous process of reappraisal. The panel therefore decided to accept the application.
Find full copies of the published determinations at bit.ly/IFoA_Discipline
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