New Delhi, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken significant action in a foreign funding case, filing a First Information Report (FIR) against the Timothy Initiative (TTI), a U.S.-based organization, along with seven associated individuals. The FIR alleges violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), including criminal conspiracy, fraud, forgery, and destruction of electronic evidence.
The case was registered on August 27, 2026, by the CBI’s Economic Offences Wing (EO-II) in Delhi. Among those named in the FIR are Jonathan S. Rajan, Mikah Mark, Ajit Varghese Mathai, Varghese Chacko, Babloo Kurmi, Supreme Joy, and the Timothy Initiative itself. Inspector Abhishek Kumar Gupta has been assigned to lead the investigation.
According to the FIR, the accused are alleged to have withdrawn substantial amounts of foreign currency from various ATMs in India using foreign debit cards issued by Truist Bank in the U.S. Investigators claim that between November 2025 and April 2026, approximately ₹92.55 crores (around $99.95 million) were misappropriated in violation of FCRA provisions.
Furthermore, it is alleged that from January 2024 to March 2026, around ₹44 crores were withdrawn via foreign debit cards across states such as Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Assam.
A report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) prompted the Ministry of Home Affairs to recommend the CBI investigation. It revealed that 24 foreign debit cards were seized from Mikah Mark at Bengaluru Airport on April 18, 2026. These cards were registered under the name ‘Santosh Kumar,’ allegedly to conceal the true identity of the cardholders and evade Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations. The investigation also claims that over 1,000 such debit cards were distributed in India.
The ED’s report indicates that Jonathan Rajan was in charge of TTI’s operations in India, while Ajit Varghese Mathai was the key figure overseeing financial operations.
Investigators assert that the funds withdrawn through these foreign debit cards were utilized for various TTI activities in India, including training programs, religious outreach, and other events. The report states that TTI spent over ₹95 crores in India.
During a search at Mikah Mark’s residence on April 18, 2026, financial and accounting data was discovered on an HP laptop. The report notes that access to information related to India on Bill.com was restricted the same day, and the laptop’s data was completely erased. The following day, access to India-related data on QuickBooks was also terminated. The ED described this as an attempt to destroy electronic evidence or obstruct investigators. Consequently, relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been included in the case.
Based on the ED’s investigation report, the FCRA division of the Ministry of Home Affairs recommended the case be handed over to the CBI for further inquiry. The ministry stated that the CBI would conduct further investigations in accordance with Section 43 of the FCRA and the central government’s notification. It was also clarified that if evidence of violations of the Income Tax Act, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), or other laws emerges during the investigation, the matter could be referred to the appropriate agencies for further action.
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