15 Years of Fraud The Shocking Case of CA Impersonation
                     15Years of Fraud: The Shocking Case of CA Impersonation les in India
The public notice, issued by advocates M. Ravi & P. Harish Varma on behalf of CA Suresh Babu Sakhamuru, was 
published in The Hindu on August 4, 2025. It warns the public against interacting with Soorampalli Suresh or 
his firm, stating that any transactions done by him are null and void. The evidence leans toward the 
impersonator being arrested after the real CA discovered the fraud upon returning to India. It appears that a 
man named Soorampalli Suresh allegedly impersonated CA Suresh Babu Sakhamuru for a period of 15 
years, from 2010 to July 2025, operating a fraudulent chartered accountancy firm in Hyderabad under the 
name S. Sureshbabu & Co at 1-405, Divya Shakthi Complex, Ameerpet, Hyderabad,. Posing as a Fellow 
Chartered Accountant with ICAI membership number 027110, which legitimately belonged to CA Suresh 
Babu since 1987, the impersonator reportedly submitted forged documents, signed audit reports, and filed 
declarations with statutory bodies, banks, government agencies, and private parties. The fraud came to light 
only when the real CA returned to India and attempted to renew his membership. Following the discovery, 
CA Suresh Babu lodged a complaint with the MVP Police Station, Visakhapatnam, resulting in the 
registration of Crime No. 288/2025 and the arrest of Soorampalli Suresh, who was later released on bail. 
Impersonating a chartered accountant is a serious criminal offence under Indian law, carrying penalties 
including imprisonment and fines. This incident serves as a strong reminder for the public to verify the 
credentials of chartered accountants before engaging their services to avoid falling victim to such 
professional impersonation. This issue involves a serious case of professional impersonation in the field of 
chartered accountancy, specifically in Hyderabad, India. The incident, as reported, highlights the risks of 
identity theft in professional services and the importance of verifying credentials.
A Grave Threat to the Profession and Public Trust Impersonating a Chartered Accountant (CA) is a grave criminal 
and professional offence with far-reaching legal and ethical consequences. It strikes at the very heart of 
the accounting profession, erodes public confidence, and compromises the integrity of financial reporting. 
In India, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), established under The Chartered 
Accountants Act, 1949, is the sole regulatory authority responsible for maintaining the dignity, discipline, 
and standards of the profession. ICAI’s mandate includes conducting examinations, enrolling members, 
laying down ethical norms, and enforcing disciplinary action against misconduct, including cases of 
impersonation. Under ICAI’s regulations, impersonation constitutes a gross violation of professional ethics 
and, if proven, can result in stringent disciplinary measures—ranging from suspension of membership to 
permanent expulsion from the register of members. Additionally, under the Indian Penal Code and allied 
laws, such impersonation can attract criminal prosecution, leading to imprisonment, fines, and civil 
liabilities.
The damage caused by impersonation is not limited to the victim CA—it undermines the credibility of the entire 
profession. Recognizing this risk, the ICAI Council had, years ago, contemplated a policy to engage 
members holding law qualifications to assist in legal proceedings. The objective was to empower these 
legally qualified members to directly lodge complaints with the police, pursue cases in local courts, and 
provide professional representation in matters involving fraudulent impersonation. Unfortunately, despite 
extensive deliberations, this initiative was eventually shelved, leaving such cases largely unaddressed 
through a structured institutional mechanism.
The current case highlights the alarming collapse of identity safeguards within the profession—where the 
accused not only impersonated a CA but also established a Chartered Accountancy firm in collusion with 
other CAs, admitting apprentices and engaging in statutory work for over a decade. This goes beyond mere 
identity theft; it reflects a systemic vulnerability in verification and oversight processes. In recent years, 
ICAI has introduced significant measures to strengthen authenticity and prevent misuse of CA credentials. 
These include: Members’ Personalised Online Portal– enabling real-time verification of member details. 
Yearly Validation of Members – An yearly KYM mechanism was introduced. Unique Document 
Identification Number (UDIN) System– making it mandatory for CAs to generate a secure code for all 
certifications and attestations, thereby preventing document forgery. Yet, as this case demonstrates, even 
these safeguards can “crumble like a house of cards” if the initial enrolment and identity verification 
process is compromised. Without a proactive and aggressive enforcement framework both at ICAI’s 
disciplinary level and in coordination with law enforcement agencies such fraudulent activities can 
continue unchecked, eroding trust in one of the most respected professions in the country.
Need for Drastic Action against CA Impersonation Impersonating a Chartered Accountant is not merely a professional violation—it 
is a criminal act that carries severe legal and ethical consequences. Such acts undermine the credibility of the accounting 
profession, erode public trust in financial reporting, and damage the reputation of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of 
India (ICAI) itself. As the sole regulatory authority for the CA profession in India, ICAI bears the responsibility to ensure that 
professional integrity is safeguarded through rigorous verification, swift investigation, and decisive action. The recent case of 
prolonged impersonation exposes glaring weaknesses in the system, and ICAI cannot afford to treat such incidents as 
isolated lapses. The potential involvement or negligence of insiders must not be overlooked. If an impersonator managed to 
obtain membership and sustain a fraudulent practice for years—forming a CA firm, inducting partners, and certifying official 
documents—then there exists a serious breach in ICAI’s internal controls. In such cases, the possibility of collusion, willful 
blindness, or procedural lapses within ICAI’s administrative framework must be thoroughly investigated.
Recommended Corrective Measures ICAI should constitute a dedicated task force to probe cases of impersonation and identity fraud 
within the profession. This cell should work independently of routine administrative functions to ensure impartiality. Conduct a 
comprehensive audit of all active memberships and firm registrations to identify anomalies, mismatched KYM details, or 
suspicious patterns in enrolment history. Examine whether ICAI officials, directly or indirectly, facilitated or ignored red flags in the 
fraudulent enrolment process. Any official found complicit should face disciplinary proceedings and legal action. ICAI should not 
wait for complaints. Any credible information or media report indicating impersonation should trigger an immediate suo-moto 
investigation. Time to develop a block chain based membership records to prevent forgery at the source. It is also advisable to 
maintain and publish a regularly updated list of individuals found guilty of impersonation or fraudulent use of CA credentials to 
warn the public and deter future offences. Further, in cases where other CA is found to have knowingly associated with an 
impersonator, ICAI should initiate strict disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion. The magnitude of damage caused 
by CA impersonation goes far beyond one individual—it strikes at the foundation of public trust in the profession. ICAI’s credibility 
depends on its ability to detect, prevent, and punish such fraud with uncompromising severity. This is not just about protecting 
individual members, but about preserving the sanctity of a profession that underpins India’s financial integrity. Extract of  The 
Original Public Notice (Published in The Hindu on August 4, 2025) Under the instructions of my Client, CA Suresh Babu 
Sakhamuru, F.C.A., S/o. S Sriramamurthy, R/o. Door No.1-11-27, Lakshmi Nagar, Visakhapatnam, A.P. I issue the following paper 
publication cautioning the public to refrain from doing any of the acts as mentioned below: My client is a qualified Fellow 
Chartered Accountant, having been admitted as a Member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) under 
Membership no.027110 in the year 1987, and had practiced till 1999, and migrated to the USA. Recently, after his return to India, 
when he sought to renew his Membership, to his utter surprise, he found that one Soorampalli Suresh, S/o. S. Venkata Reddy, R/o. 
Door No. 1-33-83, Flat No.62, RTC Colony, Secunderabad, had fraudulently impersonated my Client and introduced himself as a 
Chartered Accountant, pretending to be my Client by submitting forged and fabricated documents and affixing his photograph 
with ICAl, and got himself enrolled and started practicing from the year 2010 onwards.
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