CBI Launches Crackdown on US-Based Missionary Organization Over Massive FCRA Violations

NEW DELHI: In a major enforcement action, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a formal FIR and initiated a nationwide probe into an intricate illegal funding network allegedly operated by the US-based Christian missionary organization, The Timothy Initiative (TTI). The investigation centers on the unauthorized infusion of over Rs 92 crore into India between November 2025 and April 2026, marking a significant breach of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

According to federal investigators, the funds were systematically diverted to finance missionary activities, including training programs and organized preaching sessions. More alarmingly, officials have alleged that these resources were targeted at economically marginalized populations, with the activities actively fostering an environment conducive to left-wing extremism.

Circumventing Banking Protocols

The CBI’s probe, launched following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has unveiled a sophisticated mechanism designed to bypass formal banking oversight. Rather than utilizing standard wire transfers that require strict regulatory scrutiny, the syndicate allegedly distributed over 1,000 foreign debit cards issued by the US-based Truist Bank to operatives across India.

Field functionaries in states such as Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Assam were tasked with making frequent, large-scale cash withdrawals from ATMs to evade detection. Investigators estimate that this shadow network successfully funneled approximately $9.99 million into the country during the six-month period ending in April 2026. This is in addition to an earlier illicit withdrawal of Rs 44 crore executed through the same method between early 2024 and early 2026.

The Bengaluru Airport Breakthrough

The elaborate scheme began to unravel on April 18, 2026, when law enforcement intercepted Micah Mark, a key financial handler for the organization, at Bengaluru airport. Upon inspection, officials discovered 24 Truist Bank debit cards in his possession. All of the cards were fraudulently embossed with the identical alias, “Santosh Kumar,” an attempt to circumvent Know Your Customer (KYC) mandates and obscure the identities of the actual fund users.

The FIR alleges that this practice was orchestrated on the instructions of Ajit Verghese Mathai, a high-ranking member of the organization’s Indian leadership. Authorities state that Mark had made several international trips specifically to courier these debit cards into India.

Attempted Destruction of Evidence

As the investigative net tightened, the organization reportedly engaged in a desperate bid to scrub its digital footprint. Shortly after search and seizure operations commenced, TTI allegedly blocked domestic access to its website, ttiglobal.org, and initiated remote wipes of cloud servers containing critical data stored on laptops seized by agencies.

The CBI has identified a core leadership group involved in the conspiracy, including Jonathan S. Rajan, who oversaw training logistics and site selection, and financial handler Micah Mark. Field operatives named in the FIR include Varghese Chacko, Bablu Kurmi, and Supreme Joy.

The ongoing probe is supported by findings originally uncovered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department, both of which had previously conducted raids on the organization. As the investigation progresses, federal agencies are focusing on the full extent of the domestic network and the ultimate destination of the misappropriated funds.

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