Now Reading: CBI books US Christian group for Rs 92 crore illegal funding via 1,000 debit cards
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CBI books US Christian group for Rs 92 crore illegal funding via 1,000 debit cards
CBI books US Christian group for Rs 92 crore illegal funding via 1,000 debit cards
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against US-based Christian missionary organisation The Timothy Initiative (TTI) and its Indian leadership for allegedly using foreign debit cards to illegally funnel…
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against US-based Christian missionary organisation The Timothy Initiative (TTI) and its Indian leadership for allegedly using foreign debit cards to illegally funnel over Rs 92 crore into India, violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The probe, initiated after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) shared findings, covers cash withdrawals of USD 9,995,240 between November 2025 and April 2026 through about 1,000 debit cards issued by US-based Truist Bank, used at ATMs in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Assam, among other states.
The FIR names six individuals including operations head Jonathan S Rajan and financial handler Micah Mark, who was intercepted at Bengaluru airport on April 18 carrying 24 debit cards fraudulently embossed with the alias Santosh Kumar. CBI alleges the funds were used for training, preaching, and brainwashing of economically marginalised groups, fostering left-wing extremism. The agency also claims TTI attempted to destroy evidence by blocking its website and remotely wiping cloud data after searches.
A separate earlier withdrawal of Rs 44 crore through similar ATM transactions between January 2024 and March 2026 is also under investigation. The Karnataka High Court, rejecting a plea by TTI office bearers, observed that clandestine funding of extremism is a grave threat to national security.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Pro-government framings, led by NDTV, led with the Rs 92 crore figure and alleged link to extremism, while Times of India emphasised CBI's charge that the funds fostered left-wing extremism and included details of evidence tampering. Hindustan Times took a neutral-report stance, foregrounding the legal process and court observations. The critical framing missing from all sources is any statement from TTI or its representatives. The probe, now under CBI, will test the strength of evidence on the extremism link. The ED's referral and the high court's national security ruling give the case legal weight, but the destruction-of-evidence allegation may become central in court.
The Supreme Court hearing on bail or the next ED submission, expected in the coming weeks, is the key date.
Coverage: 4 sources, 3 pro-government, 1 neutral
Sources (4): ndtv.com (pro government), ndtv.com (2) (pro government), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (pro government), hindustantimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
