1,000 debit cards, Rs 92 crore foreign funds: CBI charges US Christian group

The CBI has registered an FCRA case against The Timothy Initiative and its India office-bearers over alleged foreign fund transactions. The case follows ED inputs and will examine ATM withdrawals, use of funds and alleged deletion of server data.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against US-based Christian missionary organisation "The Timothy Initiative" (TTI), its India operations head Jonathan Rajan, India financial head Ajit Varghese Mathai and others over alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

The agency has alleged that foreign funds amounting to Rs 92.55 crore were received and utilised by the organisation between November 2025 and April 2026 for missionary activities in violation of the law.

The FIR was registered on the basis of information shared by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is separately probing the alleged flow and utilisation of foreign funds by TTI.

According to the CBI, the accused allegedly withdrew foreign funds in cash from ATMs across the country using foreign debit cards issued by Truist Bank in the US.

The ED's investigation has allegedly found that more than 1,000 such foreign debit cards were distributed in India over the past few years. The cards were allegedly used to withdraw foreign funds from ATMs at multiple locations across the country.

The CBI case will examine the alleged receipt and utilisation of these funds and whether they were used in violation of FCRA provisions.

The ED has alleged that the foreign funds were being used for activities including training and preaching. It has also alleged that the organisation's activities involved "brainwashing of poor people leading to left-wing extremism, among others."

These are allegations made during the ED's investigation and will be examined as part of the ongoing probe.

The agency is also investigating the manner in which funds were transferred and subsequently accessed in India through foreign debit cards.

The ED has further alleged that TTI, USA attempted to destroy evidence during searches carried out as part of its investigation.

According to the agency, data stored on the organisation's servers was allegedly accessed remotely and deleted during the searches.

The CBI has now named TTI, Rajan, Mathai and other unidentified persons in its case. The probe will focus on the alleged foreign funding transactions, their withdrawal and utilisation, and possible violations of the FCRA.