CBI Books US-based Missionary group The Timothy Initiative over Rs 92.55 crore FCRA violation and 1000+ foreign debit card networks
TTI received and utilised foreign funds for missionary activities without complying with mandatory provisions of the FCRA. The alleged misuse of funds is estimated at Rs 92.55 crore.
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against US-based Christian missionary organisation The Timothy Initiative (TTI) and several people associated with its India operations over alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010.
The case was registered on a complaint from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), based on findings from an investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
A Representative Image, (Image: India Today)
According to the allegations in the complaint, TTI received and utilised foreign funds for missionary activities without complying with mandatory provisions of the FCRA. The alleged misuse of funds is estimated at Rs 92.55 crore.
The alleged activities were carried out particularly during November 2025 to April 2026, according to the complaint.
Rs 44 crore withdrawn through foreign debit cards
One of the key allegations relates to the withdrawal of around Rs 44 crore through foreign debit cards issued by Truist Bank in the United States.
According to the MHA complaint, the withdrawals were made between January 2024 and March 2026 across several states and Union Territories, including Karnataka, Chandigarh and Assam.
The agencies have alleged that the withdrawals were made in a manner that did not comply with provisions of the FCRA.
The CBI has also alleged that the money withdrawn through ATMs was subsequently used for TTI's activities across different parts of India.
These activities allegedly included training and preaching programmes. The complaint also contains an allegation that the organisation's activities involved "brainwashing of poor people" and could contribute to Left-wing extremism. These are allegations made in the agency's complaint and will be subject to investigation.
TTI India officials among those booked
The CBI has named several individuals associated with TTI in the case.
Those booked include Jonathan S Rajan, who is identified as the organisation's India operations in-charge, and Ajit Verghese Mathai, its finance head.
The case also names Micah Mark and field-level functionaries Varghese Chacko, Supreme Joy and Bablu Kurmi.
The agency has alleged that Rajan played a role in ensuring that money withdrawn through ATMs was used for TTI's activities in different parts of the country.
24 foreign debit cards seized
The investigation also centres on the alleged use of foreign debit cards.
According to the ED's findings cited in the complaint, Micah Mark was intercepted at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on April 18, where officials allegedly recovered 24 foreign debit cards issued by Truist Bank.
The agency subsequently searched his residential premises and allegedly found evidence indicating that he had undertaken multiple foreign trips and returned with foreign debit cards.
The CBI has alleged that the cards were structured in a way intended to conceal their actual users.
According to the complaint, the 24 cards recovered from Mark were printed in the name of "Santosh Kumar", described by the agency as a generic name in India. Earlier cards were allegedly issued under regional names such as NE-1, NE-2 and Southern Region-I.
The agency has alleged that the change was made on the instructions of Ajit Verghese Mathai to avoid suspicion and evade detection by law enforcement agencies.
The complaint further alleges that the practice violated Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements and concealed the identity of the actual users.
The CBI has alleged that more than 1,000 such debit cards were distributed in India over the past few years.
Remote deletion of data
The CBI has also raised allegations regarding the deletion of digital data following search proceedings.
According to the FIR, the TTI Global portal became inaccessible in India after the searches. The agency has further alleged that data stored on cloud servers and on a seized laptop was deleted remotely through access to servers and systems maintained by TTI in the United States.
The allegation is now part of the CBI investigation.
What the MHA complaint says about FCRA
The MHA has alleged that The Timothy Initiative, USA, falls within the definition of a "foreign source" under the FCRA.
The ministry has further alleged that the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions were carried out without complying with mandatory requirements under Sections 8, 11 and 17 of the FCRA, 2010.
The CBI will now investigate the flow of funds, the individuals involved, the use of foreign debit cards and the alleged violations of FCRA provisions.
No response from TTI was immediately available. Its website was reportedly inaccessible when the report was published.