{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "US Debit Cards Used to Withdraw Rs 92 Crore Cash, CBI Takes Action Against American Christian NGO",
  "summary": "The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against the US-based Christian missionary group The Timothy Initiative over alleged foreign fund misuse and FCRA violations.",
  "content": "Debit cards originating from the United States and crores of rupees being withdrawn from various ATMs across India have now reached the doorstep of the Central Bureau of Investigation.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.\n\nThe Mechanism of ATM Cash Withdrawals\nThe 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 Serious allegations have also been raised regarding the actual deployment of the money withdrawn through these cards.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.\n\nForeign Funding and Regulatory Violations\nThe 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.\n\nDistribution of Over a Thousand Foreign Cards\nA 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.\n\nKey Officials Under the Scanner\nThe 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.\n\nLinks to Training and Left-Wing Extremism Allegations\nThe 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.\n\nAllegations of Destroying Digital Evidence\nDuring 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.\n\nThis 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.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis development involving foreign funds and regulatory compliance is likely to have wider implications for the monitoring of non-governmental organizations across the nation.\n\n• Across India: Oversight and scrutiny by the Ministry of Home Affairs and investigative agencies over all NGOs and missionary groups receiving foreign contributions will become significantly stricter. Every single financial transaction under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act will now face microscopic examination.\n• In the Financial Sector: Suspicious cash withdrawals from Indian ATMs using debit cards issued by foreign banks will remain under the close watch of financial intelligence units. Prompt identification and strict legal action will be initiated against any such irregular cross-border transactions.\n\nWhy this happened\nThis investigation was initiated following findings and formal complaints regarding the unauthorized use of foreign capital and violations of regulatory frameworks.\n\n• Financial Irregularities: Initial probes by the Enforcement Directorate revealed that thousands of foreign debit cards originating from the US were being systematically utilized to draw cash from Indian ATMs.\n• Regulatory Breaches: Between November 2025 and April 2026, foreign funds totaling approximately Rs 92.55 crore were deployed for missionary work in direct contravention of established FCRA guidelines.\n• Official Referral: Following a formal complaint shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs in July, the CBI registered an FIR to take over and expand the scope of the ongoing criminal inquiry.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Which organization has been booked by the CBI in this case?\nThe CBI has registered a case against the US-based Christian missionary group The Timothy Initiative, known as TTI.\n\n2. What is the total amount of foreign funds alleged to have been misused?\nAccording to investigative agencies, foreign funds amounting to approximately Rs 92.55 crore were utilized between November 2025 and April 2026.\n\n3. Which agency initiated the probe into this matter initially?\nThis entire matter was initially under the purview and investigation of the Enforcement Directorate.\n\n4. Which key individuals associated with TTI's India operations have been named?\nThe CBI has named Jonathan Rajan and financial head Ajit Varghese Mathai in connection with the case.\n\n5. What medium was used to withdraw the foreign funds in India?\nForeign debit cards issued by the US-based Truist Bank were utilized to withdraw cash from various ATMs across India.\n\n6. When did the Ministry of Home Affairs share the complaint regarding this case?\nThe Ministry of Home Affairs shared its formal complaint regarding this matter in the month of July.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/crime/us-debit-cards-se-nikala-92-crore-cash-american-christian-ngo-par-cbi-ka-action-33030",
  "category": "Crime",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-17",
  "tags": [
    "CBI",
    "ED",
    "FCRA",
    "The Timothy Initiative",
    "foreign funds",
    "debit cards",
    "Ministry of Home Affairs"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}