The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a sophisticated multi-state money trail tied to a US-based Christian organisation that allegedly funneled nearly $99,95,240 — roughly ₹83 crore — into India between 2016 and 2021 using around 1,000 debit cards issued by Truist Bank. The probe, which has drawn nationwide attention, is being examined under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA), and associated legal provisions.
According to CBI records, funds were withdrawn through ATMs across Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and other Indian states, with the money reportedly distributed among several local NGOs and front organisations registered in India. Investigators have said the rapid, structured movement of money through numerous small accounts was designed to evade scrutiny under India's foreign funding regulations.
What first appeared as routine charitable disbursements soon raised alarms when authorities noticed that a significant portion of the foreign money was directed toward organisations operating in sensitive regions — particularly areas in northeastern India and tribal belts of central India where security forces have long monitored clandestine financing networks.
Senior CBI officials confirmed that several arrests have been made, including individuals based in the United States and India. The agency has invoked Section 3 of the FCRA, which prohibits accepting or utilizing foreign contribution without prior registration, and has also referenced provisions related to conspiracy and criminal intimidation. Legal experts note that charges relating to links with extremist groups carry additional weight under anti-terror legislation depending on how the investigation unfolds.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had previously frozen the FCRA registrations of numerous organisations in recent years for non-compliance, and this latest case has rekindled debates over the adequacy of monitoring mechanisms for foreign-directed funding.
Analysts say the scale of the operation — with nearly a thousand banking instruments used across multiple states over half a decade — suggests a coordinated financial architecture rather than isolated acts of non-compliance. The CBI is still reconstructing the complete beneficiary network and has summoned bank officials from Truist for further questioning.
