US-Based Christian Missionary Org, Others Booked Under UAPA
bengaluru : A case was registered against a US-based entity and six other entities after the ED lodged a complaint alleging illegal use of foreign funds through a network of foreign debit cards, including in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas of the country. Based on a complaint filed by Deputy Director of Emergency Service Sunil Kumar Sinhmar, Kothanur Police in Bengaluru was booked on June 11 under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The FIR names Jonathan S Rajan, Micah Mark, Ajit Verghese Mathai, Varghese Chacko, Bablu Kurmi, Supreme Joy, US-based The Timothy Initiative and others as accused.
In the complaint, ED alleged that searches conducted on April 18 and 19 under the provisions of the Income Tax Act and Foreign Exchange Management Act revealed that the accused along with TTI was using foreign debit cards issued by a US bank to withdraw and disburse foreign funds across India.
The agency alleged that approximately 92.55 billion rupees ($99,95,240) were illegally used in the six-month period from November 2025 to April 2026, in violation of FEMA and FCRA provisions.
According to the FIR, Micah Mark was detained at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on April 18 and was allegedly in possession of 24 foreign bank cards.
More than 1,000 such cards were distributed across India; many bore the common name “Santosh Kumar” while using regional identifiers such as “NE-1”, “NE-2” and “South Zone-1”.
The ED also claimed that suspicious cash withdrawals were detected in LWE-affected areas of Chhattisgarh. The FIR states that around Rs 6.34 billion is estimated to have been siphoned off from districts including Dhamtari and Bastar in the last few years.
The complaint alleged that the use of foreign debit cards for large-scale cash withdrawals indicated the involvement of an organized network, with funds allegedly being diverted to Naxalite-influenced areas. It stated that such activities constitute an illegal activity under UAPA and pose a threat to the security and economic integrity of India.
The FIR also cites the alleged destruction of electronic evidence, alleging that Mica Mark admitted to deleting her account from the back-end system, citing a report and video recording attached to the complaint.
According to ED, Ajit Verghese Mathai served as the general financial officer of TTI’s India operations, while Jonathan Rajan oversaw the organization’s activities in the country. The complaint also alleged that funds withdrawn through debit cards were used for TTI programs and activities across India.
The FIR seeks legal action against the accused for offenses such as criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and electronic records, engaging in illegal activities, promoting illegal activities and conspiracy to commit terrorist acts under UAPA.
The allegations contained in the FIR represent the allegations of the complaining agency and are subject to investigation and judicial review.
