SEC v. Himanshu Jindal a/k/a Manish Jindal — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Litigation Release No. 26665, dated October 7, 2026.
Named in the SEC’s action
- Himanshu Jindal a/k/a Manish Jindal
The SEC charged Himanshu Jindal, a citizen of India, with securities fraud for providing a phony audit report to a U.S. public company. Jindal falsely represented himself as a U.S. CPA and PCAOB-registered auditor, submitted a fraudulent engagement letter, and issued a fake audit report for the company's annual filing. He was paid $2,500 for his services.
In Plain English
Imagine someone pretended to be a certified accountant in the U.S. even though they weren't. This person then sent a fake report to a company, making it look like they had properly checked the company's finances. The company used this fake report in its official paperwork, and the person got paid for their fake work.
Disclaimer: all facts are drawn from the SEC's own filings; the claims described are allegations unless and until a court rules or the parties settle, and some cases end in dismissal.
How the Alleged Scheme Worked
- Seeking Audit Work Around August 2023, a publicly traded company, Cyber Apps World Inc. (later known as Leopard Energy, Inc.), needed an auditor for its fiscal year 2023 financial statements to file its annual report (Form 10-K).
- Impersonating a U.S. CPA Himanshu Jindal, residing in India and lacking U.S. accounting qualifications, found the job posting on an online freelance platform. He falsely represented himself as a U.S. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a PCAOB-registered auditor.
- Submitting a Fake Engagement Letter Jindal provided Cyber Apps with a fraudulent engagement letter that appeared to be from a New York-based accounting firm. This letter included a forged signature of the firm's principal, and Jindal falsely claimed to be associated with that firm.
- Issuing a Phony Audit Report Jindal then delivered a fabricated audit report for Cyber Apps' fiscal year 2023 financial statements. This report falsely stated that the audit was conducted according to PCAOB standards and opined that the financial statements were fairly presented.
- Receiving Payment Jindal received $2,500 in audit fees from Cyber Apps. He directed this payment to Helponic Global Private Limited, a company he controlled.
- Public Filing On October 25, 2023, Cyber Apps filed its Form 10-K with the SEC, including Jindal's fake audit report, making it publicly available to investors.
- Discovery and Restatement Later, when Cyber Apps discovered that the accounting firm used by Jindal was not registered with the PCAOB, it hired a legitimate auditor and restated its financial statements in an amended Form 10-K.
The Enforcement Action
The SEC filed charges against Himanshu Jindal (a/k/a Manish Jindal) for violating antifraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and aiding and abetting reporting violations. The SEC seeks permanent injunctions, a conduct-based injunction, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty.