Indian police question Tibetan monk on cash controversy
New Delhi - Indian police and federal investigators Saturday questioned Tibetan Buddhist monk the Karmapa Lama after recovering over ₨35,010,328.23 worth of cash in various currenciesfrom his monastery.
Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, leader of the Karma Kagyu sect, missed his usual Saturday morning prayers and public audience, IANS news agency reported.
The Karmapa Lama is considered the most important Tibetan religious figure after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. The 27-year-old monk who fled to India in 1999 is recognised by China and seen as a possible successor to the Dalai Lama.
Police during a raid Thursday found four large suitcases stashed with cash from the Karmapa Lama's Gyoto monastery in the outskirts of the northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala.
'The foreign currency is from 25 different countries and includes large amounts of US dollars, Chinese Yuan, Hong Kong dollars, Taiwanese and other currencies,' Himachal Pradesh police chief DS Manhas said.
'We will certainly answer all questions that the press and the public have, but for now we respectfully request you to allow us to concentrate on complying fully with the investigation that is underway,' Karma Chungyalpa, spokesman for the Karmapa Lama, said.
The financial dealings of the Karmapa's organization were completely transparent, the spokesman said in a statement.
Searches continued for the third day in the offices at the Gyoto monastery, police said.
'It's a serious issue and even a threat to the internal security of the state,' Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told a press conference.
The money recovered Friday may have been meant for an illegal land deal, IANS quoted police sources as saying.
Rubgi Chosang, an accountant at the monastery, was arrested Thursday.
Dharamsala is home to the Dalai Lama and his Tibetan government-in-exile, which is not recognized by any government. About 110,000 of the estimated 140,000 Tibetan exiles live in India.
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