On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department suspended attorney Darmin T. Bachu from practicing law for two years, effective September 19, 2025, following a disciplinary proceeding initiated by the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Darmin T. Bachu,” with case number 2022-05975.
The decision, detailed in an 11-page opinion, stemmed from four charges of professional misconduct related to the mismanagement of his escrow account and improper handling of client funds.
Bachu was served with a petition on July 26, 2022, outlining the charges. He initially admitted some allegations but denied violating professional conduct rules. In an amended answer dated January 23, 2024, he admitted most factual allegations but disputed knowing that attorney Michael Gangadeen was suspended when handling certain transactions. The matter was referred to Special Referee Michael L. Pesce, who conducted a hearing on February 7, 2024, and sustained all charges.
The charges centered on Bachu’s handling of an escrow account at JPMorgan Chase Bank. In 11 client matters, he issued checks to clients or himself for legal fees before corresponding settlement funds were deposited, resulting in payments clearing against other clients’ funds.
For example, in the Chand matter, a $4,000 check to the client and a $2,000 check to Bachu cleared in November 2016, but the $6,000 settlement was not deposited until November 29. Similar issues occurred in the Frederic, Azeez, Johnson, Abrams, Rahman, Porter, Juman, Gomez, Deodharry, and Deen matters between 2015 and 2018.
Additionally, Bachu was charged with misappropriating $11,000 from the escrow account in April 2017 to repay a personal loan to a family member, Bhumilla Bachu, when no corresponding funds were available. He claimed this was an error, believing personal funds were in the account, but admitted during an examination that the check cleared against client funds. He also failed to maintain proper bookkeeping records for the escrow account, lacking a ledger to track deposits, disbursements, and client balances.
The fourth charge involved Bachu issuing a $420,883.30 check to Gangadeen, a suspended attorney, in September 2016, after depositing $425,883.30 in settlement funds from MetLife Insurance Company for Gangadeen’s former clients. Bachu claimed the clients authorized the payment, but the supporting letter was dated February 10, 2022, undermining his testimony.
During the hearing, Bachu admitted to poor oversight, citing “haphazard” fund distribution due to inadequate record-keeping. He began maintaining a ledger only after the Grievance Committee’s investigation. He also referenced a 2016 criminal case against him for a tax credit issue, claiming it caused stress and depression, but the court noted the misconduct predated his arrest and spanned over three years.
The court considered Bachu’s pro bono work and community contributions but rejected his stress-related mitigation, emphasizing that his criminal conduct did not excuse fiduciary failures. Bachu’s prior disciplinary record included a 2022 censure for a 2019 misdemeanor conviction and earlier letters of caution and advisement.
The suspension bars Bachu from practicing law until at least March 19, 2027, with reinstatement contingent on compliance with court rules and continuing legal education requirements.
According to Avvo, Mr. Bachu is a residential real estate Lawyer in South Richmond Hill, New York. He acquired his law license in New York in 1996.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
