Foreign funds, conversion racket? India probes US missionary Timothy Initiative
The Timothy Initiative (TTI), a US-based Christian evangelical organisation that promotes the vision of "a church in every village, everywhere", has come under the scanner
The Timothy Initiative (TTI), a US-based Christian evangelical organisation that promotes the vision of "a church in every village, everywhere", has come under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over allegations that it funnelled more than Rs 92 crore into India through a network of foreign debit cards, bypassing foreign funding regulations. The BJP's Chhattisgarh unit has accused the TTI of being involved in religious conversions. And the ED says there could be a terror angle as well. Read Full Story The ED has alleged that funds linked to The Timothy Initiative (TTI) were withdrawn across several states, including Maoist-affected tribal regions of Chhattisgarh and Assam, prompting concerns over potential violations of foreign funding laws and possible national security implications. The case has led to an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the strict anti-terror law, and provisions of the BNS, indicating that investigators view it as more than just a foreign funding violation and are examining possible national security concerns. According to the ED's complaint filed at Bengaluru's Kothanur police station, TTI, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, does not have registration under India's Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). Without such registration, an organisation cannot legally receive or use foreign donations in India. HOW TIMOTHY INITIATIVE INJECTED FUNDS INTO INDIA ILLEGALLY ED has claimed the organisation found a route to funnel money into India, bypassing regulations. According to the ED, associates of The Timothy Initiative imported foreign debit cards issued by Truist Bank, USA, and used them to withdraw cash from ATMs across Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Assam. Between November 2025 and April 2026, transactions worth more than Rs 92.55 crore (around $9.9 million) were allegedly carried out in violation of FCRA and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) regulations.
The scale of the operation, according to investigators, was massive. The ED claims that more than 1,000 foreign debit cards had been distributed across India over the years. Many of them allegedly operated under common or fictitious names such as "Santosh Kumar", making it difficult to trace the actual users. When the ED conducted raids on April 18 and 19, 2026, at six locations, officials seized 25 foreign debit cards, Rs 40 lakh in cash, digital devices and documents that investigators say point to financial irregularities. One of the key developments came when Micah Mark, a Bengaluru resident, was intercepted at Bengaluru International Airport. Authorities say he was carrying 24 foreign debit cards at the time. The probe has also uncovered allegations of attempts to destroy evidence. ED claimed that a backend database account was deleted in an effort to conceal financial trails and hamper the investigation. The FIR names seven individuals, including Jonathan S Rajan, Ajit Verghese Mathai, Micah Mark, Supreme Joy, Varghese Chacko and Bablu Kurmi, among others. ED IS CONCERNED ESPECIALLY ABOUT CHHATTISGARH One aspect of the case has particularly alarmed investigators. The ED alleges that foreign debit cards were used for cash withdrawals in Maoist-affected regions of Chhattisgarh, with investigators claiming that several crore rupees were withdrawn through the network over the years. Officials argue that the movement of large amounts of cash in insurgency-prone areas raises concerns that go beyond regulatory violations. Whether the money was used solely for religious activities or for other purposes remains part of the ongoing investigation, but the security angle is one reason why the case has attracted attention at the highest levels. WHAT IS THE TIMOTHY INITIATIVE?
The BriefWire