Debit cards originating from the United States and crores of rupees being withdrawn from various ATMs across India have now reached the doorstep of the Central Bureau of Investigation. The probing agency has formally registered a case against the US-based Christian missionary group The Timothy Initiative, known as TTI. According to CBI findings, between November 2025 and April 2026, foreign funds amounting to approximately Rs 92.55 crore were allegedly utilized for various missionary activities. The agency has alleged that this utilization was in direct violation of the provisions under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, or FCRA. In this connection, the names of Jonathan Rajan, who manages operations in India for TTI, financial head Ajit Varghese Mathai, and several other individuals have come to light.
The Mechanism of ATM Cash Withdrawals
The CBI alleges that foreign debit cards issued by the US-based Truist Bank were systematically used to pull out cash from different automated teller machines spread across India. The agency registered this ongoing case based on specific intelligence and inputs received from the Enforcement Directorate. According to the investigation conducted by the ED, more than 1,000 such foreign debit cards were distributed within India over the past few years. Serious allegations have also been raised regarding the actual deployment of the money withdrawn through these cards. The ED has claimed that the funds were channeled into activities such as training and aggressive promotional campaigns.
Foreign Funding and Regulatory Violations
The core of the investigation revolves around the foreign funding worth Rs 92.55 crore that flowed into the country. The CBI states that these funds were deployed in India between November 2025 and April 2026 for missionary work without adhering to the legal boundaries set by the FCRA. It is on this primary ground that the formal criminal case has been registered. The ongoing probe is thoroughly examining the exact roles played by individuals connected to the operational and financial framework of TTI inside India to establish accountability.
Distribution of Over a Thousand Foreign Cards
A major revelation highlighted during the ED probe pertains to the extensive circulation of foreign debit cards. The agency maintains that over the last few years, more than 1,000 such cards were handed out across various locations in India. It is alleged that these cards served as conduits for drawing foreign funds as cash from ATMs situated in different parts of the country. The CBI will now attempt to uncover the exact method by which these cards were operated, the specific individuals who received the cash, and the precise activities where the money was ultimately spent.
Key Officials Under the Scanner
The CBI has specifically named individuals closely associated with TTI operations in India. Jonathan Rajan has been designated as the overall operations in-charge, while Ajit Varghese Mathai has been named the head of finance. Cases have been filed against them alongside other unnamed persons. The federal agency is currently piecing together the complex puzzle involving financial transactions, the original sources of these foreign funds, the usage patterns of the debit cards, and the ultimate application of the withdrawn amounts.
Links to Training and Left-Wing Extremism Allegations
The ED probe further alleges that the foreign funds were directed toward training and promotional efforts. The agency went on to claim that these activities had connections aimed at influencing impoverished populations and allegedly reaching up to left-wing extremism-related activities. These contentions form part of the ED allegations. However, independent verification or any formal judicial conclusion regarding these specific claims has not yet been established or pronounced.
Allegations of Destroying Digital Evidence
During the course of the investigation, the ED has also accused the US-based TTI of destroying crucial evidence. According to the agency, while search operations were underway, attempts were made to remotely access and wipe clean data residing on the servers belonging to the organization. Investigative units are now set to examine digital records and financial paperwork to trace the digital footprints. This particular angle aims to determine exactly what data was purged from the servers and who was behind the remote deletion attempt.
This sensitive case was initially handled exclusively within the jurisdiction of the ED. Following a formal complaint shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs in July, the CBI has now stepped in by registering an FIR, thereby expanding the overall scope of the investigation. The inquiry will now deeply examine the movement of foreign funds, the operational utility of these debit cards, and their underlying links to alleged missionary activities. At present, the CBI is taking forward its legal actions based on the concrete evidence and allegations compiled by investigative agencies.
