- ED took action in the case of funding in India through foreign debit cards.
- A huge amount of cash seized from a card linked to America’s Truist Bank.
- Suspicious transactions also took place in Naxal affected areas of Chhattisgarh.
- Accused of bypassing the regulatory system by cash withdrawal.
Central investigation agency Enforcement Directorate i.e. ED has taken major action in the matter of funding in India through foreign debit cards. ED is now expanding the scope of investigation in this case by conducting raids at many places across the country. Actually, this action was taken last Saturday and Sunday (April 18 and 19, 2026) at six locations in different states of the country.
What was revealed in the ED investigation?
According to ED, investigation has revealed that large amounts of cash were being withdrawn from India using foreign bank debit cards, thereby bypassing the regulatory system. This case pertains to a movement called ‘The Timothy Initiative (TTI)’ and people associated with it.
During the raid, ED also seized 25 foreign debit cards, Rs 40 lakh in cash, digital evidence, electronic devices and many other important documents.
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Why were debit cards associated with America’s Truist Bank brought to India?
Investigation revealed that foreign debit cards linked to America’s Truist Bank were brought to India and cash was repeatedly withdrawn from ATMs in different states of the country. This cash was being used to meet the expenses of the activities of TTI, which is not a registered organization under FCRA.
At the same time, in this case, ED said that many people associated with this network are active in different parts of the country. 24 foreign debit cards were recovered from a person named Mikah Mark, who was caught by the Immigration Bureau at Bengaluru International Airport on the basis of ED’s LOC.
Use of American debit card in tribal areas of Chhattisgarh
Investigation also revealed that suspicious transactions have taken place through these cards in Naxal affected areas like Dhamtari and Bastar of Chhattisgarh. About Rs 6.5 crore has been withdrawn in the last few years. ED says that such activities point towards an organized network and there is a danger of creating a parallel cash economy.
Additionally, an online billing and accounting platform was being used to keep records of these transactions, which was allegedly being operated from abroad. The investigation has also revealed that between November 2025 and April 2026, about Rs 95 crore was brought into India through foreign debit cards. At present, further investigation of the case is going on.
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