The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against US-based Christian mission The Timothy Initiative (TTI) and several of its functionaries over alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). The probe concerns allegations that foreign debit cards were used to withdraw large amounts of cash from ATMs across India, including areas affected by Naxal violence.
The CBI filed its FIR on August 27 following a request from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July. Those named include TTI operations head Jonathan S Rajan, financial operative Micah Mark, finance head Ajit Verghese Mathai, and field functionaries Bablu Kurmi, Supreme Joy and Varghese Chako, along with unknown persons and the organisation. The allegations include violations related to foreign funds, criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and provisions of the Information Technology Act.
According to the FIR, the accused allegedly “coordinated and withdrew foreign funds through various ATMs across India using foreign debit cards, issued by Truist Bank of USA”. The CBI alleges that around ₹92.55 crore was withdrawn between November 2025 and April 2026. It also alleged that approximately ₹44 crore was withdrawn using foreign debit cards across Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Assam and other states between January 2024 and March 2026.
TTI is not registered in India under the FCRA, according to the report. The ED had conducted searches against the organisation and its office-bearers in April under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), after which the agency alleged irregularities involving foreign funds.
The FIR alleges that Mark had made multiple foreign trips and returned with foreign debit cards. It further states that more than 1,000 such cards had been distributed in India over the past few years.
Officials said the organisation’s India-accessible web portal became unavailable after the April searches. The CBI also alleged that cloud-stored data and information on a seized laptop were deleted remotely from servers maintained by TTI in the US.
The CBI alleges that Rajan and Mathai coordinated the use of withdrawn funds for TTI activities across India, including “training, preaching and brainwashing of poor people leading to left wing extremism, among others”. It further alleges that field-level functionaries withdrew cash using foreign debit cards at multiple ATMs.
The Karnataka High Court, while rejecting a plea by TTI office-bearers, observed that “one of the gravest threats to national security in the present times is the clandestine funding of extremism”.
The allegations are part of an ongoing investigation and have not been established in court.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream LinkedIn | The Mainstream Facebook | The Mainstream Youtube | The Mainstream Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream is a premier platform delivering the latest updates and informed perspectives across the technology business and cyber landscape. Built on research-driven, thought leadership and original intellectual property, The Mainstream also curates summits & conferences that convene decision makers to explore how technology reshapes industries and leadership. With a growing presence in India and globally across the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN, the USA, the UK and Australia, The Mainstream carries a vision to bring the latest happenings and insights to 8.2 billion people and to place technology at the centre of conversation for leaders navigating the future.