Karmapa faces questioning for second time

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) : Tibetan religious leader Ogyen Trinley Dorje was questioned for the second time on Sunday in connection with nearly Rs 7 crore worth of unaccounted foreign and Indian currency in his monastery.

The Karmapa continued to plead innocence and maintain that money was given by devotees.

?Fifty questions were asked to the Karmapa and he denied all allegations. He said the money recovered was money given by devotees,? Una? additional superintendent of police KG Kapoor said.

Kapoor added that the police were not satisfied with the Karmapa?s replies and he may be questioned again.

Dorje was questioned earlier on Friday.

At least five people were arrested so far in connection with the money trail.

Police said while five were arrested all investigating agencies are probing the case of the Karmapa’s alleged China links and money trail after huge amount of currencies, including Chinese yen, were recovered.

The Karmapa’s office, denying China links, in a statement on Saturday said: “The cash in question, under current investigation by police is offerings received for charitable purposes from local and international disciples from many different countries wishing to
support His Holiness Karmapa’s various charitable activities.”

A hotelier named K P Bharadwaj has been detained in connection with recovery of Rs 1 crore from a car while the police is on the trail of other property agents.

Reports said the Finance Ministry has sought a report from the Himachal Pradesh government on the Karmapa issue.

The treasurer of the monastery, Shakti Lama, is remanded in police custody till Feb 5, according to reports.

Earlier reports said Himachal Pradesh police has quizzed Tibetan Ogyen Trinley Dorje for his alleged Chinese links after his accountant
was arrested the day before with an estimated Rs 8.5 crores in
multiple currencies.

Himachal Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S R Mardi told IBNS earlier: “Searches are on in many residences.”

Mardi said an arrested treasurer has been only interrogated.

The monastery in Dharamsala said they would cooperate with the police and other agencies probing the source of the money.

Dorje was enthroned as the 17th Karmapa ? the head of the Karma Kagyu, one of the schools of Tibetan Buddhism ? after the death of the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. But his election has been embroiled in controversy and Trinley Thaye Dorje operates as a
parallel Karmapa.

With about 11 lakh in Chinese yuan (Rs 76 lakh) being recovered in the raids, questions are being raised on whether Dorje was acting as a Chinese agent in Himachal Pradesh.

The head of the second-biggest Buddhist sect in Tibet, he escaped from China and arrived at the Tibetan exile quarters at McLeod Ganj in 2000. Officials now suspect that the escape was staged, reports said.

Authorities believe that with the money that was recovered on Friday, the Karmapa intended to set up a China-friendly Monastery on Kangra, Himachal Pradesh in an attempt to rally support for the country.

This is said to be Dorje?s third attempt to acquire land in Kangra,following attempts earlier in 2007 and 2008 which were halted by the
RBI and Enforcement Directorate after the started scrutinising the sources of the cash.