A case has been registered against a US-based organisation, The Timothy Initiative (TTI), and six individuals following a complaint by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleging illegal utilisation of foreign funds through a network of foreign debit cards, including in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected regions of India. Based on a complaint filed by ED Assistant Director Sunil Kumar Sinhmar, the Kothanur Police in Bengaluru registered an FIR on June 11 under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The FIR names Jonathan S. Rajan, Micah Mark, Ajit Verghese Mathai, Varghese Chacko, Bablu Kurmi, Supreme Joy, along with others, as accused in the case.
According to the complaint, searches conducted on April 18 and 19 under provisions of the Income Tax Act and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) revealed that the accused, in association with TTI, allegedly used foreign-origin debit cards issued by a US bank to withdraw and utilise funds across India.
The ED has alleged that approximately Rs 92.55 crore (USD 99,95,240) was illegally utilised over a six-month period between November 2025 and April 2026, in violation of FEMA and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
The FIR further states that Micah Mark was detained at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on April 18 and was allegedly found in possession of 24 foreign debit cards. Investigators claim that more than 1,000 such cards had been distributed across India, many carrying the common name “Santosh Kumar,” along with regional identifiers such as “NE-1,” “NE-2,” and “Southern Region-1.”
The ED also alleged that suspicious cash withdrawals were traced to LWE-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, including Dhamtari and Bastar, where approximately Rs 6.34 crore is estimated to have been withdrawn over the past few years.
According to the complaint, the use of foreign debit cards for large-scale withdrawals points to the existence of an organised network, with funds allegedly being channelled into Naxalite-influenced regions. The agency has stated that such activities could constitute unlawful acts under the UAPA and pose a threat to the country’s security and economic integrity.
The FIR also cites alleged destruction of electronic evidence. It claims that Micah Mark admitted to deleting his account from a backend system, supported by a report and video recording submitted with the complaint.
Investigators have further alleged that Ajit Verghese Mathai functioned as the financial head of TTI’s India operations, while Jonathan S. Rajan oversaw the organisation’s activities in the country. The funds withdrawn through the debit cards were allegedly used to support TTI programmes and operations across India.
The FIR seeks legal action against the accused for offences including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and electronic records, engaging in and promoting unlawful activities, and conspiracy to commit terrorist acts under the UAPA.
Officials emphasised that the allegations outlined in the FIR represent the claims made by the complainant agency and remain subject to further investigation and judicial scrutiny.
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