The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted pan-India searches into alleged illegal fund flows through foreign debit cards, with parts of Jharkhand’s Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected belt emerging as a key concern due to unusual cash withdrawals.
Searches were carried out on April 18 and 19 across six locations in multiple states under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The probe relates to suspected withdrawal and use of funds through foreign bank-issued debit cards, bypassing regulatory channels.
The ED said debit cards linked to overseas banks, including a US-based institution, were brought into India and used repeatedly at ATMs to withdraw cash. The transactions followed a “planned pattern,” indicating possible involvement of an organised network.
Officials noted that similar withdrawal patterns have been observed in LWE-affected regions, including parts of Jharkhand. The agency flagged concerns over the emergence of a parallel cash-based system in sensitive areas, with potential implications for financial integrity and internal security.
The investigation is linked to a movement identified as “The Timothy Initiative (TTI)” and individuals associated with it in India. According to the ED, TTI India is not registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), yet funds withdrawn through these cards were allegedly used to meet its operational expenses.
The probe also flagged significant withdrawals in other LWE zones, particularly in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, where around Rs 6.5 crore is estimated to have been withdrawn in recent years using similar methods.
In a key development, 24 foreign debit cards were recovered from an individual intercepted by immigration authorities at Bengaluru airport, indicating a coordinated operation.
Investigators have also identified an online billing and accounting platform, allegedly operated from outside India, used to track ATM withdrawals and fund utilisation.
The ED estimates that approximately Rs 95 crore was channelled into India between November 2025 and April 2026 through such mechanisms.
Search operations resulted in the seizure of 25 foreign debit cards, cash worth Rs 40 lakh, and digital devices and documents.